Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41661200›Full record

Trial reportBJS open2025

Neoadjuvant FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab without radiotherapy for high-risk rectal cancer: multicentre phase II trial.

Takeru Matsuda, Yoshiaki Nagatani, Yohei Funakoshi, Takahiro Tsuboyama, Yasuhiko Mii, Kunihiko Kaneda, Tomohiro Tanaka, Hiroshi Hasegawa, Kimihiro Yamashita, Naomi Kiyota and 2 more

Abstract readClinical Trial, Phase IIMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in BJS open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Takeru MatsudaDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-9541-856X
Yoshiaki NagataniDepartment of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Yohei FunakoshiDepartment of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-7793-5013
Takahiro TsuboyamaDepartment of Radiology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Yasuhiko MiiDepartment of Surgery, Kitaharima Medical Centre, Ono, Japan.
Kunihiko KanedaDepartment of Surgery, Kakogawa Central City Hospital, Kakogawa, Japan.
Tomohiro TanakaDepartment of Surgery, Kakogawa Central City Hospital, Kakogawa, Japan.
Hiroshi HasegawaDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Kimihiro YamashitaDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Naomi KiyotaDepartment of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-8021-6116
Hironobu MinamiDepartment of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Yoshihiro KakejiDivision of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe optimal neoadjuvant strategy for high-risk locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) remains a matter of debate. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant FOLFOXIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) plus bevacizumab without radiotherapy in patients with magnetic resonance imaging-defined high-risk LARC.

methodsA prospective, multicentre, single arm phase II trial was conducted in four Japanese Institutions between 2018 and 2024, enrolling patients with rectal adenocarcinoma and at least one high-risk criterion: clinical T4, lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis, mesorectal fascia involvement, or positive extramural vascular invasion. Patients received four cycles of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab, followed by two cycles of FOLFOXIRI alone, before total mesorectal excision. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR); secondary endpoints included the R0 resection rate, local recurrence (LR), recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and safety.

resultsOF 50 eligible patients, 31 were enrolled before early trial closure due to a slow accrual (accrual rate 62%). All patients underwent surgery. The pCR rate was 10% (3 of 31) and R0 resection was achieved in 97% (30 of 31) of patients. The median follow-up was 36.7 months. The 3-year cumulative LR rate was 3%, with 3-year RFS and OS rates of 73 and 81%, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 neutropenia occurred in 29% of patients, with acceptable toxicity overall. No cases of gastrointestinal perforation were observed. Grade ≥ III postoperative complications occurred in seven patients (23%), with the most frequent events being anastomotic leakage in two patients (7%).

conclusionsIn this phase II trial, although recruitment was suboptimal, neoadjuvant FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab achieved good local control without radiotherapy in patients with high-risk LARC. Although the pCR rate was modest compared with radiotherapy-based regimens, this chemotherapy-only approach may represent a reasonable option for select patients who are not suitable candidates for pelvic radiotherapy. Registration number: UMIN000037367 (https://www.umin.ac.jp/english/).

Indexed as

AdenocarcinomaAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBevacizumabCamptothecinNeoadjuvant TherapyRectal NeoplasmsAdultAgedColorectal Surgical ProceduresFemaleFluorouracilHumansJapanLeucovorinMaleMiddle AgedBevacizumabCamptothecinFluorouracilLeucovorinOrganoplatinum CompoundsOxaliplatin

Identifiers

PMID41661200
PMCPMC12884854

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.