IMRT Versus IMPT With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Anal Canal Cancer (NCT06630793) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
IMRT Versus IMPT With Concurrent Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Anal Canal Cancer
India108 participantsStarted 2025-03-18
Plain-language summary
The standard practice in management of carcinoma of anal canal is to treat patients with radiotherapy using the IMRT technique along with chemotherapy. It is known that while IMRT has reduced treatment related side effects as compared to the older radiation techniques, reducing these side effects further still remains a major challenge.
These side-effects include gastrointestinal (diarrhea, altered bowel habits, weight loss, bleeding, obstruction), genitourinary (difficulties in passing urine, passing blood in urine, difficulty in holding urine) and hematologic toxicities (anemia, low platelet count and increased predisposition to infections).
Proton therapy (IMPT) is a form of radiation treatment in which high doses can be delivered within the tumor while the surrounding normal tissues receive a lesser radiation dose. It is believed that these physical properties of proton therapy may help reduce the side effects of treatment.
Patients will be randomly assigned to either receive IMRT or IMPT based treatment so as to see whether it is possible to reduce the acute treatment related toxicities. In this study, there is a 66.7% chance that the patient will get IMPT based treatment, which may be able to reduce the toxicities.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Age \> 18 and \< 80 years of age
. Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal or distal rectum
. The patients may have TNM stage T1-2 N+M0 or T3-4 N0-1c M0 (UICC 8th edition)
. Involvement of lower para-aortic lymph nodes (till renal hilum) as the only site of disease extension on PET CECT may also be included as they receive radical chemoradiation as standard treatment.
. WHO or ECOG performance status 0-1
. HIV testing is known and HPV (P16) testing done on tissue sample.
. With suitable blood test values for standard concurrent chemotherapy (Hb \> 10 mg/dL, ANC \> 1.5 cells/mm3, Platelets \> 100,000 cells/mm3, Creatinine \< 1.5 x ULN, Bilirubin \< 3 x ULN, ALT \< 3 x ULN) as deemed by a medical oncologist in team.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. The patient must be expected to tolerate the treatment and be compliant for follow up.
Exclusion criteria
. Two or more synchronous primary cancers.
. When prosthetic materials (e.g. hip prostheses) are present close to the target volume, it must be considered if this may introduce uncertainties in dose calculations, which may affect the treatment planning process.
. Ulcerative colitis or any other histologically confirmed inflammatory bowel disease.
. Poor reliability for follow-up and treatment completion.