About the study

This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus tiragolumab or atezolizumab alone following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in participants with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). The study consists of a safety run-in phase and a randomization phase. Participants enrolled in the safety run-in phase will receive atezolizumab + tiragolumab following nCRT. Upon determination of the safety of the treatment regimen, the study will be proceed to the randomization phase. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the atezolizumab + tiragolumab arm or atezolizumab arm.

Who can take part?

You may be eligible to participate in the study if you meet the following criteria:

Inclusion criteria

1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the rectum
2. Resectable locally advanced rectal cancer, with clinical stage as cT3N+M0 or cT4NanyM0 per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC)/ International Union Against Cancer (UICC) 8th edition
3. The inferior margin of the tumor ≤10cm from the anal verge
4. No prior anti-cancer treatment for rectal cancer
5. Availability of a representative tumor specimen that is suitable for pathological evaluation and biomarker expression analysis
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance status (PS) of 0 or 1
7. At least one measurable lesion per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RESIST) v1.1
8. Adequate hematologic and end-organ function
9. For patients receiving therapeutic anticoagulation: stable anticoagulant regimen
10. Negative HIV test at screening
11. For women of childbearing potential: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraception, and agreement to refrain from donating eggs for at least 5 months after the final dose of atezolizumab and for 90 days after the final dose of tiragolumab, for 6 months after the final dose of capecitabine, for 6 months after the final dose of 5-FU
12. For men: agreement to remain abstinent (refrain from heterosexual intercourse) or use contraceptive methods and agreement to refrain from donating sperm for at least 90 days after the final dose of tiragolumab, 3 months after final dose of capecitabine, for 6 months after the final dose of 5-FU.

Exclusion criteria

1. Evidence of metastatic disease
2. Histology consistent with small cell carcinoma, squamous carcinoma, or mixed carcinoma
3. Presence of synchronous colorectal cancer
4. Presence of obstruction or imminent obstruction
5. Clinical symptoms or radiological suspicion of bowel perforation
6. Not eligible for long-course radiotherapy
7. History of malignancies other than rectal cancer within 3 years prior to screening with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death
8. Active or history of autoimmune disease or immune deficiency
9. Significant cardiovascular disease
10. History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organizing pneumonia, drug-induced pneumonitis, or idiopathic pneumonitis, or evidence of active pneumonitis on screening chest computed tomography (CT) scan
11. Severe chronic or active infection within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment
12. Treatment with therapeutic oral or IV antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment
13. Uncontrolled tumor-related pain
14. Uncontrolled pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, or ascites requiring recurrent drainage procedures
15. Uncontrolled or symptomatic hypercalcemia
16. Uncontrolled diabetes or Grade ≥ 2 abnormalities in potassium, sodium, despite standard medical management within 14 days prior to initiation of study treatment
17. Prior treatment with CD137 agonists, T-cell co-stimulating, or immune checkpoint blockade therapies, including anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-TIGIT therapeutic antibodies
18. Treatment with systemic immunostimulatory agents
19. Treatment with systemic immunosuppressive medication
20. Treatment with a live, attenuated vaccine within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment
21. Major surgical procedure or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to initiation of study treatment, or abdominal surgery, abdominal interventions or significant abdominal traumatic injury within 60 days prior to initiation of study treatment
22. Any other disease, medical condition or abnormality, metabolic dysfunction, alcohol or drug abuse or dependence, physical examination finding, clinical laboratory finding that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, may affect the interpretation of the results, or may render the participant at high risk from treatment complications
23. Treatment with any other investigational agent with therapeutic intent within 28 days prior to study treatment initiation
24. History of severe allergic anaphylactic reactions to chimeric or humanized antibodies or fusion proteins
25. History of allergic reactions to chemotherapy drugs (5-FU and capecitabine)
26. Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency or history of severe and unexpected reactions to fluoropyrimidine therapy in participants selected to receive capecitabine
27. Pregnant or breastfeeding

For a full list of inclusion/exclusion criteria, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov

Study locations

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How to apply

Determine if a study site for this clinical trial is near you. Contact the study to apply.