Plain-English translation of NCT04495088 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.
This trial is testing a new approach to treating locally advanced rectal cancer. Instead of the standard approach, researchers want to see if giving chemotherapy (specifically FOLFOX or XELOX) before surgery works better than giving it after surgery. The goal is to help more patients survive and prevent the cancer from coming back.
Even when rectal cancer is caught early and treated with surgery, about 20–25% of patients still develop cancer that spreads to other parts of the body. Doctors believe giving strong chemotherapy before surgery, rather than after, might be more effective at stopping this from happening.
If you join this trial, you will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. In one group, you will receive chemotherapy (either 6 cycles of FOLFOX or 4 cycles of XELOX) before surgery, with surgery scheduled 4–6 weeks after your last chemotherapy dose. In the other group, you will have surgery first, followed by chemotherapy after you have recovered. Throughout the trial, you will have regular clinic visits, blood tests, and imaging scans to monitor how well the treatment is working and check for any side effects.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Aug 14, 2026 · Not medical advice
Germany