Postoperative Chemotherapy With or Without Bevacizumab for Patients With Stage II or III Rectal Cancer
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2019-02-11
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and fluorouracil, work in
different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping
them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block tumor growth in
different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor
cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Bevacizumab may also stop
the growth of tumor cells by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Giving more than one drug
(combination chemotherapy) together with bevacizumab after surgery may kill any tumor cells
that remain after surgery. It is not yet known whether oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and
fluorouracil is more effective with or without bevacizumab in treating rectal cancer. This
randomized phase III trial is studying combination chemotherapy to see how well it works with
or without bevacizumab in treating patients who have had surgery for stage II or stage III
rectal cancer.