STELLAR

Regimen

Experimental
Short-course RT (5×5 Gy) → CAPOX × 4 cycles → surgery (TNT approach)
Control
Long-course CRT (50 Gy + capecitabine) → surgery

Population

Locally advanced rectal cancer (cT3–4 or N+), China multicenter (N=599); China-led TNT trial.

Key finding

3-year DFS noninferiority confirmed: short-course RT + CAPOX 64.5% vs CRT 62.3% (HR 0.883, noninferiority P=0.006); pCR 22.9% vs 11.4% (P<0.001); 3-year OS 86.5% vs 75.1% (HR 0.649, P=0.028) favoring TNT approach. First Chinese RCT validating short-course RT TNT strategy.

Source: PMID 35263150

Timeline

    Guideline citations

    • NCCN Rectal (p.113)