Total Neoadjuvant Therapy of SCRT+CAPOX vs SCRT+CAPOXIRI for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (ENSEMBLE)

This trial is a multicenter randomized Phase III study to verify the superiority of short-course preoperative radiation (SCRT) and CAPOXIRI over SCRT and CAPOX as preoperative treatments for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:The content of this research was fully explained, and written informed consent was obtained from the subject.Histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma.Radical resection is clinically possible without any distant metastases on imaging studies.Age of 18 years or older on the date of consent acquisition.Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) PS 0-1 (PS 0 if aged 70 years or older on consent acquisition date).Inferior margin of the tumor is within 12 cm of the AV.No prior tumor treatment.No history of radiation therapy to the pelvis, including treatment for other cancer types.*or T1-4N1-2M0 based on Union Internationale Contre le Cancer (UICC) 8th edition.(*5 cm< AV ≤ 10 cm, T3a/bN0M0, extramural venous invasion (EMVI) -, mesorectal fascia (MRF) clear and 10 cm < AV ≤ 12 cm, T3a/bN0-1M0, EMVI-, MRF clear are eligible only for those who refused surgery)UGT1A1 is wild-type or single heterozygous.Criteria for major organ function within 14 days prior to enrollment. If there are multiple test results within this period, the most recent one will be used, and blood transfusions and hematopoietic factor preparations will not be administered within 14 days before the test date for measurements before registration.Neutrophil count: ≥1,500/mm3Platelet count: ≥10.0×10 4/mm3Hemoglobin concentration: ≥9.0 g/dLTotal bilirubin: ≤2.0 mg/dLAspartate transaminase (AST): ≤100 IU/L or lessAlanine transaminase (ALT): ≤100 IU/L or lessSerum creatinine: Creatinine clearance ≥30 mL/min (by Cockcroft & Gault formula)Exclusion Criteria:Extensive surgery (excluding colostomy and central venous port construction) within 4 weeks before starting protocol treatment.Complications or history of severe lung disease (such as interstitial pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, and severe emphysema).Colonic stent in place.Contraindications for MRI such as cardiac pacemakers.Serious comorbidities (such as heart failure, renal failure, liver failure, intestinal paralysis, intestinal obstruction, uncontrolled diabetes, and active inflammatory bowel disease).Patients with multiple active cancers (simultaneous multiple cancers or metachronous multiple cancers with a disease-free interval of 5 years or less). However, carcinoma in situ or lesions equivalent to intramucosal carcinoma, which can be cured by local treatment, are not treated as active multiple cancers.Pregnant women, lactating women, positive pregnancy test, or unwillingness to use contraception.Hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen positive or hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody-positive. However, HCV-RNA-negative can be registered.Have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.MSI-high (MSI-H) or defective mismatch repair (dMMR) is known.Unwilling to donate specimens for "Research on gene profiling and clinical significance using clinical specimens from cancer patients" for whole-genome analysis based on the "Action Plan for Whole-Genome Analysis, etc." (CONDUCTOR study).Any other patients the principal investigator or co-investigator deems inappropriate for study participation.