Not yet recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Clinical and BIOgical Analyses of RECtal Tumors

This study aims to understand rectal cancer better by looking at samples from patients who have already had surgery. Rectal cancer affects many people, and while treatments like surgery and chemotherapy can be effective, they can also cause side effects. Researchers want to find out why some people respond well to certain treatments, like immunotherapy, and why others don't. Specifically, they're looking at how the body's immune system reacts to the cancer and how this changes during treatment. The goal is to develop better ways to predict which treatments will work best for each individual, potentially helping more patients avoid surgery when possible and improving their quality of life.

At a glance

Status

Not yet recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Centre Leon Berard

Enrolment target

300

Start

01 May 2026

Estimated completion

01 May 2033

Rectal Cancer

What is this study about?

Rectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the back passage. It's quite common, with around 14,000 new cases in France each year. While treatments have improved over time, helping many people live longer, sometimes the cancer can be advanced or spread to other parts of the body, making it harder to treat. Standard treatments often involve surgery, but doctors are always looking for ways to make treatments more effective and less invasive.

One exciting area of research is called "Watch and Wait." This approach tries to help some patients avoid surgery if their cancer has responded completely to treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, often given before surgery. However, doctors don't yet have a perfect way to tell who will respond well enough to skip surgery. This study aims to find better ways to identify these patients by looking closely at their cancer cells and the body's immune response.

Researchers are also interested in a special type of rectal cancer that doesn't respond well to standard chemotherapy but might respond to newer treatments called immunotherapy. By studying samples from patients, they hope to discover clues that help predict who will benefit most from these different treatments. Understanding how the cancer changes during treatment could lead to new ways to overcome resistance and develop even better treatment options in the future.

Key takeaways

This study investigates rectal cancer using existing tissue and blood samples.
It aims to find better ways to predict which treatments, including those that avoid surgery, will be most effective.
Researchers are looking at your body's immune response to cancer.
The study could help develop new strategies to overcome treatment resistance.
Participation involves no extra tests or clinic visits.
Your involvement could help future patients with rectal cancer.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people who have been diagnosed with rectal cancer and have had surgery for it since January 1st, 2019. You must be at least 18 years old to take part. Both men and women are welcome to join.

To be eligible, a doctor must have confirmed that the cancer found during your surgery was definitely rectal adenocarcinoma. This information would be in your medical records.

There are no specific reasons that would automatically stop you from taking part in this particular study, other than not meeting the above criteria.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Have you had surgery for rectal cancer since January 1st, 2019?
Was your cancer confirmed by a doctor as 'rectal adenocarcinoma' from your surgery samples?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study involves looking at samples that have already been collected as part of your standard medical care when you had surgery for rectal cancer. You would not need to make any extra visits or take any new medications. You wouldn't need to have any additional tests or follow-up appointments specifically for this research.

The researchers will use existing blood and tissue samples from your surgery that are normally stored. Because the samples are already collected, your participation is very simple and won't require any additional time or effort from you after you agree to take part.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study only uses samples that were already collected during your standard medical care, there are no direct physical risks for you. Your personal information will be kept private and anonymous. A potential benefit is that the information learned from your samples, combined with those from many other people, could help doctors in the future understand rectal cancer better, leading to improved treatments and potentially avoiding surgery for some patients. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, which means the researchers would stop using your samples for the study, and it would not affect your medical care.

Locations (1)

Centre Léon Bérard
Verified postcode
Lyon, France

Common questions

What is the main goal of this study?

The main goal is to understand rectal cancer better to find new ways to predict which treatments will work best for patients, possibly helping some avoid surgery.

Do I need to have any extra medical procedures if I join?

No, you won't need any extra procedures. This study only uses samples that were already collected during your previous surgery.

Will taking part in this study affect my current medical care?

No, taking part in this study will not affect your medical care in any way. Your doctors will continue to treat you as usual.

Will my personal information be kept private?

Yes, your personal information will be kept private and anonymous to protect your identity.

Can I change my mind after agreeing to join?

Yes, you can withdraw your consent at any time without giving a reason, and it will not affect your medical care.

How to find out more

Philippe CASSIER, MD

philippe.cassier@lyon.unicancer.fr (+33)04 26 55 68 33 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.