Recruiting

Chemotherapy before surgery for advanced colon cancer in adults over 70

Plain-English translation of NCT06293625 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated March 2025 · Translation generated June 2026 · 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.

What is this trial?

This trial is testing whether chemotherapy given before surgery—rather than after surgery—is better for older adults (age 70 and above) with advanced colon cancer. The chemotherapy being tested is called , which combines three drugs to shrink tumors before they are surgically removed. The goal is to see if this approach helps patients tolerate treatment better and have better outcomes.

Currently, older patients with advanced colon cancer often skip chemotherapy after surgery because they are too weak or frail from the operation itself. This trial is testing whether giving the medication before surgery instead might help patients stay stronger, complete their full treatment, and ultimately have better survival rates.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are 70 years old or older
you have been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer (or upper rectal cancer) that has not spread to other parts of your body
your cancer is confirmed to be operable (your doctor believes surgery can remove it completely)
you are healthy enough to receive chemotherapy and surgery, as assessed by your cancer specialist or a geriatric oncologist
your blood counts and organ function (kidney, liver, heart) are adequate to handle the treatment

You likely don't qualify if…

you have evidence that your cancer has spread to distant organs or the lining of your abdomen
you have a perforated tumor causing peritonitis (infection in the abdomen)
you have serious heart or medical problems that would make chemotherapy unsafe
you have had another cancer in the past 5 years (except non-melanoma skin cancer)
you have a specific type of nerve damage that causes functional problems

What participation looks like

If you enroll, you will receive three courses of chemotherapy () over about 6 weeks before your surgery. After completing the chemotherapy, you will have surgery to remove the cancer. You will visit the hospital regularly for chemotherapy infusions and blood tests to monitor your health. Your doctor will assess your overall fitness before starting to make sure you can safely receive the treatment.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 6, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

France

CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon