ASCO GI 2022 | Averectal: short-course radiation plus chemotherapy in addition to chemo-IO, followed by surgery

Ali Shamseddine, MD, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, outlines the rationale for the Phase II Averectal study (NCT03503630). Growing evidence indicates the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer is not improving outcomes for patients. The Averectal study investigated the use of total neoadjuvant therapy, incorporating short-course radiation plus chemotherapy antecedent to surgery, in addition to chemoimmunotherapy. Results from the trial have demonstrated an improvement in pathologic complete response (pCR), with 37.5% of patients achieving pCR. This interview took place at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium 2022