Non-Operative Management and Early Response Assessment in Rectal Cancer (NOM-ERA)

April 28, 2026 updated by: Washington University School of Medicine
The investigators' data from a phase I study of short course radiation therapy followed by chemotherapy showed 74% complete clinical response (cCR). Given the promising response rate, the investigators are evaluating short course radiation therapy (SCRT) followed by chemotherapy in a multi-institution phase II trial to validate the cCR rate of this treatment paradigm. SCRT has not been prospectively evaluated in non-operative management for patients with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
63

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Colorado
      • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
        • University of Colorado
    • Minnesota
      • Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905
        • Mayo Clinic
    • Missouri
      • St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
        • Washington University School of Medicine
    • Vermont
      • Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401
        • University of Vermont Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of biopsy proven stage I-IIIB (cT1-3, N0-2a, M0) adenocarcinoma of the rectum; staging must also be based on multidisciplinary evaluation including MRI
  • Tumor ≤ 12 cm from anal verge as determined by MRI or endoscopy
  • Clinically detectable (MR, endoscopy, or DRE) tumor present
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
  • At least 18 years of age

  • Adequate bone marrow function defined as:

    • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1,500 cells/mm3
    • Hemoglobin> 8 g/dl
    • Platelets >100,000 cells/mm3
  • Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately.
  • Able to understand and willing to sign an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Prior radiation therapy, chemotherapy or extirpative surgery for rectal cancer.
  • Prior oxaliplatin or capecitabine use for any malignancy
  • No prior radiation therapy to the pelvis.
  • A history of other malignancy (except non-melanomatous skin cancers) with the exception of malignancies for which all treatment was completed at least 2 years before registration and the patient has no evidence of disease.
  • Currently receiving any investigational agents.
  • A history of allergic reaction attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to capecitabine, 5FU, oxaliplatin, or leucovorin.
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry.
  • Patients with HIV are eligible unless their CD4+ T-cell counts are < 350 cells/mcL or they have a history of AIDS-defining opportunistic infection within the 12 months prior to registration. Concurrent treatment with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) according to Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) treatment guidelines is recommended. HIV testing for patients without a history of HIV is not a protocol requirement.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Radiation + FOLFOX
  • Pelvic radiotherapy 5GY x 5 fractions once daily
  • Radiation to extra-mesorectal node 7 Gy x 5 fractions once daily

  • FOLFOX should begin 2-4 weeks after completion of radiotherapy and will consist of FOLFOX x 8 cycles (16 weeks).

    • Oxaliplatin day 1 every 14 days
    • Leucovorin day 1 every 14 days. Levoleucovorin may be substituted if leucovorin is not available.
    • 5-FU bolus day 1 every 14 days
    • 5-FU infusion day 1 every 14 days over 46 hours
  • An optional simultaneous integrated boost of 30 Gy in 5 fractions to the primary tumor is permitted
Radiation: Radiation therapy
-Monday-Friday treatment is strongly recommended
Drug: FOLFOX regimen
-CAPOX can be given as alternative
Experimental: Radiation + CAPOX
  • Pelvic radiotherapy 5GY x 5 fractions once daily
  • Radiation to extra-mesorectal node 7 Gy x 5 fractions once daily

  • CAPOX should begin 2-4 weeks after completion of radiotherapy and will consist of CAPOX x 5 cycles (15 weeks).

    • Capecitabine 1000 mg/m^2 by mouth twice per day on days 1-14 of every 21 day cycle
    • Oxaliplatin 130 mg/m^2 intravenous on day 1 of each 21 day cycle
  • An optional simultaneous integrated boost of 30 Gy in 5 fractions to the primary tumor is permitted
Radiation: Radiation therapy
-Monday-Friday treatment is strongly recommended
Drug: CAPOX regimen
Given as an alternative to FOLFOX

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Clinical Complete Response Rate
Time Frame: Completion of treatment (estimated to be 22 weeks)

- Criteria for clinical complete response:

  • No residual gross tumor at procto/sigmoidoscopy; or only erythematous scar or ulcer
  • No palpable tumor on DRE
  • No radiographic evidence of tumor on MRI
  • No suspicious mesorectal lymph nodes on MRI
  • Negative biopsy from scar, ulcer, or former tumor site (if necessary according to surgeon's judgment)
Completion of treatment (estimated to be 22 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression-free Survival (PFS)
Time Frame: At 2 years

  • Criteria for progressive disease:

    • Increase in the size of primary tumor by RECIST criteria (increase of at least 20% from nadir in the sum of the target lesion, with an absolute increase of at least 5 mm)
    • New metastatic disease
  • PFS is defined as the time from date of treatment to death or progression, which occurs first. The alive patients without progression are censored as the last date follow-up.
At 2 years
Incidence of Any Grade 3 or Higher Toxicity During Treatment
Time Frame: From start of treatment through the completion of treatment (estimated to be 22 weeks)
- The descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 will be utilized for all toxicity reporting.
From start of treatment through the completion of treatment (estimated to be 22 weeks)
Incidence of Post Chemoradiotherapy Grade 3 or Higher Toxicity
Time Frame: At 1 year after the start of radiation
- The descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 will be utilized for all toxicity reporting.
At 1 year after the start of radiation
Organ Preservation Rate
Time Frame: At 1 year
At 1 year
Organ Preservation Rate
Time Frame: At 2 years
At 2 years
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (Physical Well-Being)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • Physical Well-Being section of the FACT-C questionnaire consists of 7 questions.
  • Answers to the questions range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score for this section ranges from 0-28.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (Social/Family Well-Being)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • Social/Family Well-Being section of the FACT-C questionnaire consists of 7 questions.
  • Answers to the questions range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score for this section ranges from 0-28.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (Emotional Well-Being)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • Emotional Well-Being section of the FACT-C questionnaire consists of 6 questions.
  • Answers to the questions range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score for this section ranges from 0-24.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (Functional Well-Being)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • Functional Well-Being section of the FACT-C questionnaire consists of 7 questions.
  • Answers to the questions range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score for this section ranges from 0-28.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (Colorectal Cancer Subscale)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • Colorectal Cancer Subscale section of the FACT-C questionnaire consists of 7 scored questions.
  • Answers to the questions range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score for this section ranges from 0-28.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (FACT-G Total Score)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • The FACT-G total score is calculated by adding the Physical Well Being subscale score, Social/Family Well Being subscale score, Emotional Well Being subscale score, and Functional Well Being subscale score
  • Answers to the questions comprising the subscales range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score ranges from 0-108.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (FACT-C-TOI Total Score)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • The FACT-C-Trial Outcome Index (TOI) total score is calculated by adding the Physical Well Being subscale score, Functional Well Being subscale score, and the Colorectal Cancer subscale score
  • Answers to the questions comprising the subscales range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score ranges from 0-84.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
Quality of Anorectal Function as Measured by the FACT-C Questionnaire (FACT-C Total Score)
Time Frame: Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy
  • The FACT-C total score is calculated by adding the Physical Well Being subscale score, Social/Family Well Being subscale score, Emotional Well Being subscale score, Functional Well Being subscale score, and the Colorectal Cancer subscale score
  • Answers to the questions comprising the subscales range from 0=not at all to 4=very much. The higher the total score the lower quality of life.
  • The total score ranges from 0-136.
Baseline, Completion of chemo (up to 16 weeks), and 10-14 months after radiation therapy

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Washington University School of Medicine

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Michael Waters, M.D., Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 21, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 3, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 3, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 4, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
May 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 201904029

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

Deidentified data will be shared with investigators who submit a sound proposal. Participants who opted out of data sharing in the informed consent will not be included.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Up to 5 years after completion of the study

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Proposals should be directed to kim.hyun@wustl.edu. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement and provide proof of appropriate regulatory approvals as necessary.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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