Preoperative Chemoradiotherapy and Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery Versus Ttransanal Endoscopic Microsurgery in T1 N0, M0 Rectal Cancer (TAUTEM-T1 Study)

Summary

Introduction: The standard treatment for rectal adenocarcinoma is total mesorectal excision (TME), a technique involving resection of the rectum, with or without a temporary or permanent stoma. TME is associated with high morbidity and genitourinary alterations. On the other hand, transanal endoscopic surgery (TEM) allows access to tumors up to 20 cm from the anal margin, with much lower postoperative morbidity and without the need for ostomy. For T1, N0, M0 rectal adenocarcinomas without poor prognostic factors, TEM is the technique of choice. However, recent studies have described local recurrences of up to 20%. Our group, TAUTEM, has just completed a phase III clinical trial in T2-T3ab, N0, M0 rectal cancer, comparing preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and TEM versus TME, with very positive results in terms of postoperative morbidity, quality of life, and a local recurrence rate of 7.4%, not inferior to TME. These results encourage our TAUTEM group to launch a similar project at the T1, N0, M0 stage, comparing standard TEM treatment versus QRT and TEM, aiming to improve rectal preservation outcomes and enhance results regarding local recurrence, distant recurrence, and oncologic survival. Method: Prospective, controlled, randomized phase III multicenter clinical trial. Patients with rectal adenocarcinoma within 10 cm of the anal margin and up to 4 cm in size, staged as T1, N0, M0, will be included. These patients will be randomized into two groups: TEM after CRT and TEM alone. Postoperative morbidity and mortality, CRT side effects, and quality of life will be recorded. The minimum follow-up will evaluate rectal preservation and local recurrence and survival at two and three years. The sample size calculation for the study will be 106 patients. Conclusions: The aim of the study is to improve oncological outcomes in stage T1, N0, M0 rectal cancer through preoperative chemoradiotherapy associated with local surgery (TEM).

Timeline

Start

2024-10

Primary completion

2026-10

Completion

2027-10

Publications

• Background Serra-Aracil X, Pericay C, Badia-Closa J, Golda T, Biondo S, Hernandez P, Targarona E, Borda-Arrizabalaga N, Reina A, Delgado S, Vallribera F, Caro A, Gallego-Plazas J, Pascual M, Alvarez-Laso C, Guadalajara-Labajo HG, Mora-Lopez L. Short-term outcomes of chemoradiotherapy and local excision versus total mesorectal excision in T2-T3ab,N0,M0 rectal cancer: a multicentre randomised, controlled, phase III trial (the TAU-TEM study). Ann Oncol. 2023 Jan;34(1):78-90. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.09.160. Epub 2022 Oct 8.
• Background Serra-Aracil X, Pericay C. Reply to the Letter to the Editor 'The role of chemoradiotherapy in organ preservation for rectal cancer' by L. Xie, Q. Chen, and J. Zhu. Ann Oncol. 2023 Apr;34(4):440-442. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.12.011. No abstract available.
• Background Casalots A, Serra-Aracil X, Mora-Lopez L, Garcia-Nalda A, Pericay C, Ferreres JC, Navarro-Soto S. T1 Rectal Adenocarcinoma: a Different Way to Measure Tumoral Invasion Based on the Healthy Residual Submucosa with Its Prognosis and Therapeutic Implications. J Gastrointest Surg. 2021 Oct;25(10):2660-2667. doi: 10.1007/s11605-021-04948-9. Epub 2021 Feb 24.
• Results Serra-Aracil X, Pericay C, Golda T, Mora L, Targarona E, Delgado S, Reina A, Vallribera F, Enriquez-Navascues JM, Serra-Pla S, Garcia-Pacheco JC; TAU-TEM study group. Non-inferiority multicenter prospective randomized controlled study of rectal cancer T2-T3s (superficial) N0, M0 undergoing neoadjuvant treatment and local excision (TEM) vs total mesorectal excision (TME). Int J Colorectal Dis. 2018 Feb;33(2):241-249. doi: 10.1007/s00384-017-2942-1. Epub 2017 Dec 12.
• Results Naik DN, Kaneda T. Biosynthesis of branched long-chain fatty acids by species of Bacillus: relative activity of three alpha-keto acid substrates and factors affecting chain length. Can J Microbiol. 1974 Dec;20(12):1701-8. doi: 10.1139/m74-263. No abstract available.
• Serra-Aracil X, Nonell A, Gener-Jorge C, Pericay C, Golda T, Kreisler E, Espin-Basany E, Pallisera A, Badia-Closa J, Espina B, Borda-Arrizabalaga N, Reina A, Guadalajara-Labajo H, Otero A, Delgado S, Kraft M, Querol R, Flor B, Pellino G, Biondo S, Caro-Tarrago A; TAUTEM-T1 collaborative group. Chemoradiotherapy and transanal endoscopic surgery versus transanal endoscopic surgery alone in T1N0M0 rectal cancer: a multicenter, randomized, controlled, phase III clinical trial (TAUTEM-T1 study). Int J Colorectal Dis. 2026 Apr 23;41(1):96. doi: 10.1007/s00384-026-05112-y.

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