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THeragnostic Utilities for Neoplastic DisEases of the Rectum by MRI Guided Radiotherapy (THUNDER2)

8 juli 2026 bijgewerkt door: CHILOIRO GIUDITTA, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) is the standard treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), and patients achieving complete response (CR) generally have improved local control, metastasis-free survival, and overall survival.

The aim of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of radiotherapy dose escalation in rectal cancer by identifying poor responders during treatment using the Early Tumor Regression Index (ERI). Patients are treated using magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT). ERI is calculated at fraction 10. Patients with an ERI value below 13.1 continue the standard treatment schedule, whereas patients with an ERI value above 13.1 undergo adaptive replanning with dose escalation up to 60.1 Gy to the residual tumor volume.

Concomitant chemotherapy consists of fluoropyrimidine-based treatment, with oxaliplatin permitted in patients at high risk of recurrence. In selected high-risk patients, consolidation chemotherapy with three cycles of FOLFOX may be administered during the interval before surgery.

Following protocol amendments, the study was expanded to include a total planned enrollment of 179 patients. Additional blood samples for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analysis and stool samples for gut microbiome profiling are collected at predefined time points. These longitudinal multi-omics data are integrated with magnetic resonance imaging-based delta-radiomics features to develop composite biomarker models for prediction of treatment response.

The primary outcome measures are complete response, defined as ypT0N0 after Total Mesorectal Excision (TME), ypT0 ycN0 after Local Excision (LE), or ycT0N0 in patients managed with Watch and Wait, and the prospective validation of the magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy delta-radiomics predictive model.

Studie Overzicht

Toestand

Werving

Conditie

Interventie / Behandeling

Gedetailleerde beschrijving

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (nCRT) is the standard treatment modality for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Patients who achieve a complete response (CR) after treatment generally experience improved local control, metastasis-free survival, and overall survival. Because response to radiotherapy is dose-dependent in rectal cancer, dose escalation may increase complete response rates. The ability to identify patients who are unlikely to achieve a complete response before surgery or during treatment is therefore of major clinical importance. An Early Tumor Regression Index (ERI) has been developed to predict pathological complete response after nCRT. Patients with ERI values below 13.1 have been shown to demonstrate a stronger response during treatment and a lower probability of developing distant relapse.

The primary aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the impact of adaptive radiotherapy dose escalation in rectal cancer by identifying poor responders during treatment using ERI and increasing the prescribed radiation dose in these patients. Using this adaptive boosting strategy, an increase of approximately 10% in the complete response rate is expected. All enrolled patients receive chemoradiotherapy delivered using a 0.35 Tesla magnetic resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) system.

The radiotherapy schedule consists of 55 Gy in 25 fractions to the gross tumor volume and corresponding mesorectum, together with 45 Gy in 25 fractions to the whole pelvis. Concomitant chemotherapy consists of continuous oral capecitabine or 5-fluorouracil. Oxaliplatin may be added in patients considered at high risk of recurrence. Daily magnetic resonance imaging is performed throughout treatment. ERI is calculated at fraction 10. Patients with an ERI value below 13.1 continue the standard treatment schedule, whereas patients with an ERI value above 13.1 undergo adaptive treatment replanning with dose escalation up to 60.1 Gy to the residual tumor volume. For selected high-risk patients, consolidation chemotherapy with three cycles of the FOLFOX regimen may be administered during the interval before surgery. Patients achieving a complete clinical response may be managed using a Watch-and-Wait strategy according to multidisciplinary team evaluation.

Following protocol amendments, the study has been expanded to include additional patients for longitudinal multi-omics analyses. Stool samples are collected for gut microbiome characterization, including metagenomic, metabolomic, and metatranscriptomic analyses. Blood samples are collected for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) analyses and other blood-based biomarkers. These data are integrated with magnetic resonance imaging-derived delta-radiomics features to develop composite biomarker models aimed at improving prediction of treatment response and supporting personalized treatment strategies in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Studietype

Ingrijpend

Inschrijving (Geschat)

179

Fase

  • Niet toepasbaar

Contacten en locaties

In dit gedeelte vindt u de contactgegevens van degenen die het onderzoek uitvoeren en informatie over waar dit onderzoek wordt uitgevoerd.

Studiecontact

Studie Locaties

Deelname Criteria

Onderzoekers zoeken naar mensen die aan een bepaalde beschrijving voldoen, de zogenaamde geschiktheidscriteria. Enkele voorbeelden van deze criteria zijn iemands algemene gezondheidstoestand of eerdere behandelingen.

Geschiktheidscriteria

Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie

18 jaar en ouder (Volwassen, Oudere volwassene)

Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers

Nee

Beschrijving

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histological proven adenocarcinoma of the rectum;
  • cT2-4, or cN0-2 (also extramesorectal nodes), or mesorectal fascia involvement for tumor (MRF+) or extramural venous invasion (EMVI+);
  • cM0;
  • No prior radiotherapy in pelvic region;
  • Tumour located between 0 and 15 cm above the anal verge;
  • Not mesorectal fascia involvement for tumor;
  • No extramesorectal nodes involvement;
  • No extramural venous invasion (EMVI);
  • No rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma histology;
  • No contra-indications for MRI;
  • ECOG 0-1;
  • Age over 18 years;
  • Adequate hematological function: granulocyte count > 1500/microl, Hemoglobin level > 10 g/dl, Platelet count > 100000/microl, ALT/AST: 7-45 UI/L;
  • No other malignancies in the previous history (except skin and initial cervical cancer);
  • Absence of important comorbidities: severe cardiac or coagulative disease, moderate or severe restrictive/obstructive lung deficit, severe cognitive impairment, moderate and severe renal and hepatic impairment;
  • Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial;
  • Absence of pregnancy or lactating female patients;
  • Written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Distant metastases (cM1);
  • Prior radiotherapy in the pelvic region;
  • Tumour located lower than 0 cm or higher than 15 cm above the anal verge;
  • Rectal mucinous adenocarcinoma histology;
  • Contra-indications for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI);
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score >= 2;
  • Age under 18 years;
  • Inadequate hematological function (Granulocyte count <= 1500/microl, Hemoglobin level <= 10 g/dl, Platelet count <= 100000/microl, ALT/AST outside 7-45 UI/L);
  • History of other malignancies (except skin cancer and initial cervical cancer);
  • Presence of severe comorbidities (severe cardiac or coagulative disease, moderate or severe restrictive/obstructive lung deficit, severe cognitive impairment, moderate/severe renal or hepatic impairment);
  • Any psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule;
  • Pregnant or lactating female patients.

Studie plan

Dit gedeelte bevat details van het studieplan, inclusief hoe de studie is opgezet en wat de studie meet.

Hoe is de studie opgezet?

Ontwerpdetails

  • Primair doel: Behandeling
  • Toewijzing: Niet-gerandomiseerd
  • Interventioneel model: Opdracht voor een enkele groep
  • Masker: Geen (open label)

Wapens en interventies

Deelnemersgroep / Arm
Interventie / Behandeling
Experimenteel: LARC patients treated by MRgRT with Early Regression Index (ERI) at 10th fraction >13.1
All patients will be treated on MRgRT, at the second week , patients with an ERI > 13.1 will underwent RT dose intensification on GTV + 3 mm to 60.1 Gy with a Simultaneous Integrated Boost (SIB).
Straling: RT Dose escalation in LARC patients with an Early Regression Index > 13.1 at second week on nCRT
The initial radiotherapy treatment will consist in delivering 55 Gy in 25 fractions on GTV plus the corresponding mesorectum of 45Gy in 25 fractions on the whole pelvis. Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or oral capecitabine will be administered continuously. A 0.35 Tesla Magnetic resonance image will be acquired at simulation and every day during MRgRT. At fraction 10, ERI will be calculated. If ERI will be inferior than 13.1 the patient will continue the original treatment. If ERI will be higher than 13.1 the treatment plan will be reoptimized considering the residual tumor at fraction 10 as new therapy volume, where the dose will be intensified to reach 60.1 Gy.
Geen tussenkomst: LARC patients treated by MRgRT with Early Regression Index (ERI) at 10th fraction < 13.1
All patients will be treated on MRgRT, at the second week , patients with an ERI < 13.1 will underwent standard RT dose of 55Gy on tumor and corresponding mesorectum

Wat meet het onderzoek?

Primaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
Complete response
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
ypT0N0 in case of TME, ypT0ycN0 in case of LE, ycT0N0 in case of WW
6 months
Prospective validation of delta radiomics MR-guide Radiotherapy model
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
correlation between response prediction and clinical or pathological response
6 months

Secundaire uitkomstmaten

Uitkomstmaat
Maatregel Beschrijving
Tijdsspanne
3 years Local control
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
survival outcomes
3 years follow up
3 years Metastasis Free Survival
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
survival outcomes
3 years follow up
3 years Disease Free Survival
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
survival outcomes
3 years follow up
3 years Overall Survival
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
survival outcomes
3 years follow up
R0 resection rate
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
percentage of surgical intervention with negative margins
6 months
Tumor Regression Grade 2
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
surgical outcomes
6 months
Neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
surgical outcomes
6 months
Tumor Regression Grade 1
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
surgical outcomes
6 months
Sphincter preservation rate
Tijdsspanne: 6 months
percentage of surgical intervention without the positioning of permanent stomia
6 months
Organ preservation rate
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
percentage of patients underwent conservative approaches (WW or EL)
3 years follow up
Rectal function
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
impact of therapy on rectal functions by MSKCC questionnaire (from always to never with 5 items)
3 years follow up
Sexual function
Tijdsspanne: 3 years follow up
impact of therapy on sexual function by IIEF and FSFI questionnaires (from 1 worst to 5 better)
3 years follow up

Medewerkers en onderzoekers

Hier vindt u mensen en organisaties die betrokken zijn bij dit onderzoek.

Sponsor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Medewerkers

Viewray Inc.

Onderzoekers

  • Hoofdonderzoeker: Giuditta Chiloiro, MD PhD, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Publicaties en nuttige links

De persoon die verantwoordelijk is voor het invoeren van informatie over het onderzoek stelt deze publicaties vrijwillig ter beschikking. Dit kan gaan over alles wat met het onderzoek te maken heeft.

Algemene publicaties

Studie record data

Deze datums volgen de voortgang van het onderzoeksdossier en de samenvatting van de ingediende resultaten bij ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieverslagen en gerapporteerde resultaten worden beoordeeld door de National Library of Medicine (NLM) om er zeker van te zijn dat ze voldoen aan specifieke kwaliteitscontrolenormen voordat ze op de openbare website worden geplaatst.

Bestudeer belangrijke data

Studie start (Werkelijk)

17 maart 2021

Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)

1 januari 2027

Studie voltooiing (Geschat)

1 oktober 2031

Studieregistratiedata

Eerst ingediend

12 maart 2021

Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria

22 maart 2021

Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)

25 maart 2021

Updates van studierecords

Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)

10 juli 2026

Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria

8 juli 2026

Laatst geverifieerd

1 juli 2026

Meer informatie

Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie

Trefwoorden

Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden

Andere studie-ID-nummers

  • 3460

Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)

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NEE

Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel

Nee

Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct

Nee

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