ASCO GI 2021 | Total neoadjuvant therapy + pembrolizumab in locally-advanced rectal cancer

Namrata Vijayvergia, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, outlines the results of a randomized Phase II clinical trial platform using total neoadjuvant therapy in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Pembrolizumab added to chemoradiation was safe and was not associated with unexpected short-term toxicities but did not meet the primary endpoint of improvement in Neoadjuvant Rectal Cancer (NAR) score. This interview was recorded via an online conference call with The Video Journal of Oncology (VJOncology).