Multicenter, Prospective, RCT：Investigation of Combined Modality Therapy for Locally Advanced Mid/Low Rectal Cancer.

At present, the combined modality treatment of preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by radical surgery has become the standard of care for the locally advanced mid/low rectal cancer, having been proved to substantially improve the local control of the disease, whereas not being able to improve the long-term survival. According to present clinical practice guidelines, all patients with cT3-4N0M0 or cTanyN1-2M0 mid/low rectal cancer are recommended to undergo the preoperative long-term radiotherapy with concurrent 5FU based chemotherapy, followed by the radical resection of the tumor. After surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) is recommended for all these patients without considering the postoperative pathological results. Recently, however, some authors proposed that different strategy of combined modality therapy should be applied in different patients according to their risk of relapse, instead of using the uniform NCRT strategy. In this research, on the basis of investigator's previous clinical practice and researches, investigators plan to stratify the patients with cT3-4N0M0 or cTanyN1-2M0 mid/low rectal cancer into several subgroups according to tumor stages and the risk of relapse. Different therapeutic strategy will be applied in different groups, at the aim of improving the overall therapeutic effects, as well as reducing the treatment adverse effects. This research consists of four trials.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

75 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients aged 18 to 75 years old. Patients with cT3-4N0M0 or cTanyN+M0 mid/low rectal cancer. Patients with ASA physical status scroe of I to III. Patients who can fully understand the content of the informed consent form and sign it upon their own opinions.

Patients who can coordinate with the researchers to undergo the long-term post-treatment rechecks and follow-ups.

Exclusion Criteria:

Patient has any underlying or current medical condition, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with the evaluation of the patient (e.g., end-stage liver disease, pulmonary hypertension, systemic lupus erythematosis etc.).

Patient is pregnant or lactating. Patient has a history of malignancy within 5 years except curatively treated basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma in a non-mucosal, ultraviolet exposed area, or cervical carcinoma.

Patient is participating in any other clinical trials within 30 days prior to screening.

Patient has severe mental illness. Patient has any other conditions, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with the evaluation of the subject.

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