Watch-and-wait after PD-1 for certain rectal cancer
Part of Cancer, Digestive system clinical trials.
This study looks at whether people with a very strong response to a PD-1 antibody can safely delay or avoid more standard rectal cancer treatment (a “watch-and-wait” approach). It may help some people avoid surgery, radiation, or ongoing treatment while still closely monitoring the cancer.
Summary written for real people, not researchers, by Clin2.
Who can take part
- You have rectal adenocarcinoma (rectal gland cancer) diagnosed by biopsy.
- Your tumor is dMMR or MSI-H (a specific DNA repair/genetic marker), confirmed by tumor testing.
- Your MRI shows the tumor is low in the rectum (below the peritoneal reflection).
- Your scans show no spread to distant organs (no distant metastasis on CT/MRI).
- You must have had a complete response: imaging suggests complete response and biopsy confirms no remaining tumor (cCR and pCR).
- You should not have had rectal surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immune drugs like PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 or other trial medicines before this study.
Quick eligibility check
Answer a few plain-language questions, based on this study's own requirements, to get a preliminary sense of fit.
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