Skip to main content
TTrialFinderData
TrialFinderData is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always talk to your doctor.

Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Neoadjuvant Treatment With mFOLFOXIRI Plus Cadonilimab (AK104) Versus mFOLFOX6 in Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Neoadjuvant Treatment With mFOLFOXIRI Plus Cadonilimab (AK104) Versus mFOLFOX6 Alone in Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer: a Randomized Control Phase II Study (OPTICAL-2)

Neoadjuvant Treatment With mFOLFOXIRI Plus Cadonilimab (AK104) Versus mFOLFOX6 in Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer (NCT05571644) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Colorectal Cancer, sponsored by Sun Yat-sen University. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesenteric excision (TME) and adjuvant chemotherapy was the standard of treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in the past two decades. The main obstacles for improving survival benefit of LARC was distant metastasis. Recently, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) had been recommended as new preferred option for LARC. Induction chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI followed by CRT or short-course radiotherapy followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy had improved survival benefit for LARC. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy had also been explored in pMMR patients with CRC. In the NICHE trial, neoadjuvant therapy with 2 dose of nivolumab and 1 dose of ipilimumab led to 29% of pathological response and 13% of pCR. Cadonilimab (AK104) was a PD-1/CTLA-4 bi-specific antibody. Here, we tried to explore the efficacy of Neoadjuvant Treatment With mFOLFOXIRI with or without Cadonilimab (AK104) Versus mFOLFOX6 in LARC.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Colorectal Cancer and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 143 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused Colorectal Cancer subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Aged 18-70; 2. Colorectal adenocarcinoma with definite histological evidence; 3. ECOG Performance status score is 0-1 4. Colon cancer was evaluated as T3\>5mm or T4 by contrast-enhanced CT examination of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and distant displacement was excluded; Rectal cancer was graded as T3-4 and/or N+ by pelvic contrast-enhanced MRI examination, and the lower margin of the tumor was less than 12cm away from the anal margin. Distant metastasis was excluded by chest, abdomen and pelvis CT. 5. The primary rectal tumor was assessed as complete resections by a multidisciplinary collaboration group on colorectal cancer, including at least 2 gastrointestinal surgeons and 1 radiologist; 6. No previous systemic antitumor therapy for colorectal cancer, including cytotoxic drugs, immunotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, etc.; 7. your organs (liver, kidneys, etc.) are working well enough based on blood tests based on the following laboratory test values obtained within 7 days prior to treatment: blood count (hemoglobin) at least 90g/L, neutrophil count ≥1.5×109/L, platelet count ≥75×109/L, serum total bilirubin ≤1.5× upper limit of normal value (UNL), aspartate transferase ≤2×UNL, alanine transferase ≤3×UNL, serum creatinine ≤1.5×UNL; 8. Willing and able to comply with research protocols and visit plans. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: 1. The patient was complicated with obstruction, active bleeding, or perforation and required emergency surgery or stent placement; 2. Active, known or suspected autoimmune conditions (where your immune system attacks your own body)s (except type I diabetes, residual hypothyroidism requiring only hormone replacement due to autoimmune conditions, or autoimmune conditions (where your immune system attacks your own body)s that are not expected to recur in the absence of external triggers); ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Aged 18-70; 2. Colorectal adenocarcinoma with definite histological evidence; 3. ECOG Performance status score is 0-1 4. Colon cancer was evaluated as T3\>5mm or T4 by contrast-enhanced CT examination of the chest, abdomen and pelvis, and distant displacement was excluded; Rectal cancer was graded as T3-4 and/or N+ by pelvic contrast-enhanced MRI examination, and the lower margin of the tumor was less than 12cm away from the anal margin. Distant metastasis was excluded by chest, abdomen and pelvis CT. 5. The primary rectal tumor was assessed as complete resections by a multidisciplinary collaboration group on colorectal cancer, including at least 2 gastrointestinal surgeons and 1 radiologist; 6. No previous systemic antitumor therapy for colorectal cancer, including cytotoxic drugs, immunotherapy, molecular targeted therapy, etc.; 7. Adequate organ function based on the following laboratory test values obtained within 7 days prior to treatment: Hemoglobin ≥90g/L, neutrophil count ≥1.5×109/L, platelet count ≥75×109/L, serum total bilirubin ≤1.5× upper limit of normal value (UNL), aspartate transferase ≤2×UNL, alanine transferase ≤3×UNL, serum creatinine ≤1.5×UNL; 8. Willing and able to comply with research protocols and visit plans. Exclusion Criteria: 1. The patient was complicated with obstruction, active bleeding, or perforation and required emergency surgery or stent placement; 2. Active, known or suspected autoimmune diseases (except type I diabetes, residual hypothyroidism requiring only hormone replacement due to autoimmune conditions, or autoimmune diseases that are not expected to recur in the absence of external triggers); 3. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), untreated active hepatitis (hepatitis B, defined as HBV-DNA ≥ 500 IU/ml; Hepatitis C, defined as HCV-RNA above the detection limit of the assay) or co-infection with hepatitis B and C; 4. Known allergy to the treatment drug or allergy or intolerance to its ingredients; 5. Major surgery or severe trauma, such as laparotomy, thoracotomy, laparoscopic organ resection, etc. within the previous 4 weeks (the surgical incision should be completely healed before enrollment); 6. Existing or coexisting other active malignancies (except those that have been treated with curative therapy and remain disease-free for more than 5 years or carcinoma in situ that can be cured by adequate treatment); 7. Previously received anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1) antibody and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) antibody. Ctla-4) antibodies or other drugs/antibodies that act on T-cell costimulatory or checkpoint pathways; 8. Had active coronary artery disease, severe/unstable angina pectoris or newly diagnosed angina pectoris or myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study enrollment; Thrombotic or embolic events, such as cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attack), pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, occurred within the previous 6 months; 9. The New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or higher congestive Heart failure (see Appendix 3); 10. Presence of active inflammatory bowel disease or other colorectal disease leading to chronic diarrhea; 11. The presence of any toxicity (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, CTCAE) (version 5.0) grade 1 or above (except anemia, alopecia, and skin pigmentation) caused by previous treatment that has not subsided; 12. Previous or current history of pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial pneumonia, pneumoconiosis, drug-related pneumonia, severe impairment of pulmonary function and other lung diseases; 13. Active tuberculosis (TB), receiving anti-TB therapy or receiving anti-TB therapy within 1 year before the first dose; 14. Persons with known syphilis infection requiring treatment; 15. Had used immunosuppressive drugs within 4 weeks before the first dose, Does not include the nasal spray, inhalation, or other ways of topical corticosteroids or physiological doses of systemic corticosteroids (i.e., no more than 10 mg/day prednisone or other equivalent dose glucocorticoids), allows for prevention of allergic reactions, or treatment of diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of breathing difficulties for the temporary use of glucocorticoid; 16. Receive live attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks before the first dose or during the study period; 17. Pregnant or lactating women; Women of reproductive age (\< 2 years after last menstruation) who do not use or refuse to use effective non-hormonal contraception or men at risk of having children.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

mFOLFOXIRI + Cadonilimab

Cadonilimab(AK104)6mg/kg, intravenous d for 60 minutes, followed by mFOLFOXIRI (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, irinotecan 150 mg/m2, and folinic acid 400 mg/m2 followed by 5-fluorouracil 2400mg/m2 as a 46-hour continuous infusion on day 1) every 2 weeks for 6 cycles before surgery

DRUG

mFOLFOX6

mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, and folinic acid 400 mg/m2 followed by bolus 5-fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 and 5-fluorouracil 2400mg/m2 as a 46-hour continuous infusion on day 1) every 2 weeks for 6 cycels before surgery

DRUG

mFOLFOXIRI

mFOLFOXIRI (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, irinotecan 150 mg/m2, and folinic acid 400 mg/m2 followed by 5-fluorouracil 2400mg/m2 as a 46-hour continuous infusion on day 1) every 2 weeks for 6 cycles before surgery

DRUG

mFOLFOXIRI+AK104+fruquintinib

Cadonilimab(AK104)6mg/kg, intravenous d for 60 minutes, followed by mFOLFOXIRI (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, irinotecan 150 mg/m2, and folinic acid 400 mg/m2 followed by 5-fluorouracil 2400mg/m2 as a 46-hour continuous infusion on day 1) every 2 weeks for 6 cycles, and fruquintinib (3mg Qd, D1-21, Q4W for 3 months) before surgery

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Gastrointestinal Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05571644), the sponsor (Sun Yat-sen University), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05571644 clinical trial studying?

Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesenteric excision (TME) and adjuvant chemotherapy was the standard of treatment for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) in the past two decades. The main obstacles for improving survival benefit of LARC was distant metastasis. Recently, total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) had been recommended as new preferred option for LARC. Induction chemotherapy with FOLFOXIRI followed by CRT or short-course radiotherapy followed by FOLFOX chemotherapy had improved survival benefit for LARC. Neoadjuvant immunotherapy had also been explored in pMMR patie… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05571644?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05571644?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05571644. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05571644. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.