Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation With RHUMAB VEGF (Avastin) for Rectal Cancer
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2009-01-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Preoperative chemoradiation leads to increased pelvic control and overall survival, but both
distant and local disease control remain problematic in locally advanced rectal cancer
patients. Enhancing the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can increase tumor response
as well as distant disease control. Patients who have complete response to therapy have
increased sphincter preservation, and can possibly have more limited surgery (full thickness
local excision). When combined with standard chemotherapy, bevacizumab [RHUMAB VEGF, Avastin]
has been shown to improve response and median survival in patients with metastatic colorectal
cancer in a recent randomized trial, has led to increased activity in preclinical studies
with radiotherapy, and has been found to be very well tolerated with chemoradiation in a
phase I trial conducted at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) in patients with locally
advanced pancreatic cancer. The hypothesis is that the addition of bevacizumab to standard
chemoradiation will safely lead to increased tumor response in patients with locally advanced
rectal cancer.