Tests short-course palliative radiotherapy in people with advanced rectal cancer
Studies a shorter radiation schedule for rectal cancer in adults who cannot have surgery.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Hypofractionated Palliative Radiotherapy in Patients With Advanced Non-operable Rectal Cancer
Key facts
- Where
- Terrassa, SpainSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with rectal or sigmoid cancer who cannot have surgery. They were treated with a set radiotherapy plan of 39Gy in 13 fractions of 3 Gy.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Rectal or sigmoid cancer where surgery is not possible because of advanced age, other illnesses, or several metastases found at diagnosis.
- Earlier treatment
- Must have had radiotherapy with a dose of 39Gy in 13 fractions of 3 Gy. Cannot have had chemotherapy given together with radiotherapy.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Cancer that is not in the rectum or sigmoid colon
- Under 18 years old
- Treated with chemotherapy given together with radiotherapy
- Able to have surgery after radiotherapy
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in Spain
- Consorci Sanitari de TerrassaTerrassa, SpainContact: Joan Lozano, MDTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa
- Trial code
- NCT03853733
- Record updated
- 19 March 2026
- Original description
Many patients with rectal cancer were not candidates for surgical resection because advanced age, comorbidities, or multiple synchronous metastases. In this scenario only comfort measures or different palliative radiotherapy regimens are applied, from single doses to treatments lasting several weeks. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the preliminary results of our protocol of hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy in patients with non-operable rectal cancer.Read full original descriptionShow less
Palliative Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Non-operable Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Many patients with rectal cancer were not candidates for surgical resection because advanced age, comorbidities, or multiple synchronous metastases. In this scenario only comfort measures or different palliative radiotherapy regimens are applied, from single doses to treatments lasting several weeks. The aim of this prospective study is to describe the preliminary results of our protocol of hypofractionated palliative radiotherapy in patients with non-operable rectal cancer.
Inclusion: Patients with rectal or sigmoidal cancer who were not candidates for surgical resection because advanced age, comorbidities, or multiple synchronous metastases at the time of diagnosis; Patients with = or > 18 years old; Patients treated with a radiotherapy dose of 39Gy in 13 fractions of 3 Gy.
Exclusion: Patients treated with concurrent chemotherapy; Patients candidates for surgical resection after radiotherapy; Patients with a non rectum or sigma colo-rectal cancer; Patients with <18 years old.