Alliance E-News - March 2026
Spotlight on Colorectal Cancer
Alliance Highlights New and Open Colorectal Cancer Trials in March
This March, join the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology (Alliance) and the Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) in spotlighting colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, behind only lung cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Last year, an estimated 155,000 Americans received a diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer, and about 53,000 died from the disease.
Alliance has several trials focused on improving treatments for colorectal cancers as well as others aimed at ways to prevent the disease or catch it very early when symptoms are most easily and effectively treated.
New Trials Opened in 2026 for People with Colorectal Cancer
Alliance A212101: Evaluation of Provider vs. Patient Mediated Cascade Genetic Testing of First-Degree Relatives of Patients with Newly Diagnosed Colorectal Cancer
Heather Hampel, MS, CGC, of City of Hope, and Frank Sinicrope, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, are co-study chairs of this trial which aims to help improve how patients with colorectal cancer share information about genetic risks that can run in families. Understanding risks can help families get screening earlier, take preventive steps, and catch cancer sooner when it’s easier to treat. This study will enroll patients with colorectal cancer and their at-risk family members to compare whether it’s more effective for patients to speak directly with their family members to explain genetic risks and encourage genetic testing, or if it’s more effective for the communication to come from a healthcare provider.
Alliance A232402 CD: PAGODA-Randomized Trial of a Proactive Graduated Dose Modification Algorithm for FOLFOX Chemotherapy to Prevent Unplanned Delays
Led by Gabriel Brooks, MD, MPH, of Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine, this trial will test PAGODA, the Proactive Graduated Dose Modification Algorithm. It’s a structured plan that helps doctors make small, proactive changes to chemotherapy doses to prevent treatment delays. Instead of reacting after severe side effects occur, PAGODA guides doctors to act early, keeping patients on schedule and reducing stress and delays. The trial is enrolling patients with cancer of the esophagus, gastroesophageal junction, stomach, small intestine, appendix, colon, rectum, and cancers of unknown primary with suspected GI origin.
Ongoing Clinical Trials Open to People with Colorectal Cancer
Alliance A022101: Testing the Addition of Total Ablative Therapy to Usual Systemic Therapy Treatment for Limited Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, The ERASur Study
Led by Eric Miller, MD, PhD, of The Ohio State University Medical Center, the ERASur trial is enrolling patients with colorectal cancer that has spread beyond the liver. This phase III study tests whether adding total ablative therapy (in the form of stereotactic radiation therapy, surgery, and microwave ablation treatment) to the usual chemotherapy improves survival for this group of patients.
Alliance A022102: mFOLFIRINOX Versus mFOLFOX With or Without Nivolumab for the Treatment of Advanced, Unresectable, or Metastatic HER2 Negative Esophageal, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Haesong Park, MD, of the Dana‑Farber Cancer Institute, is evaluating treatment options for people with metastatic HER2‑negative esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric cancers. The phase III trial compares two chemotherapy regimens, mFOLFIRINOX and mFOLFOX, with or without the immunotherapy drug nivolumab. The goal is to understand which regimen (or combination) offers the best outcomes for patients.
Alliance A222004: Olanzapine Versus Megestrol Acetate for the Treatment of Loss of Appetite Among Advanced Cancer Patients
Headed by Aminah Jatoi, MD, of the Mayo Clinic, this phase III trial compares the effects of olanzapine versus megestrol acetate in treating loss of appetite in patients with advanced cancer, including colorectal cancer, that has spread to other places in the body. This study aims to find out if olanzapine is better than the usual approach for stimulating appetite and preventing weight loss in people with advanced cancers. The primary outcome of the study is to find out which medication is more effective helping people in the study gain weight.
Alliance A222302: Distance-based Exercise to Preserve Function and Prevent Disability (DEFEND)
Led by Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and Jennifer Ligibel, MD, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, this study is evaluating the feasibility of delivering a structured exercise program entirely through telehealth for patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, including people with colorectal cancers. The trial will assess if virtual exercise sessions, consisting of supervised resistance and aerobic exercise training, can successfully be delivered to patients during treatment. The study will also explore whether the exercise program can help patients maintain physical function, reduce fatigue, and prevent disability during treatment.
AFT A232403: Longitudinal Screening for Financial Hardship to Improve Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Cancer (PROOF)
Victoria Blinder, MD, MSc, of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, leads this study to determine if monthly remote digital financial hardship screening among adults with advanced cancer, including colorectal cancers, helps improve survival outcomes. Financial hardship is a common problem affecting patients, often leading to poor outcomes related to financial worry, health related quality of life, symptom burden, treatment adherence and overall survival. This trial will use a screening intervention to see if patients connecting patients to financial navigation resources leads to improved health outcomes.
Prevention Studies
Alliance A211901: Reaching Rural Cancer Survivors Who Smoke Using Text-based Cessation Interventions
Also called Project Reach, this phase III trial led by Devon Noonan, PhD, MPH, FNP-B, of Duke University School of Nursing, compares the effect of text-based cessation intervention to a manual intervention to help cancer patients quit smoking cigarettes. Text-based scheduled gradual reduction may reduce the frequency of cigarette use to zero and may be effective in quitting smoking. This study is open to any cancer survivor, including people who previously had a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
Alliance A212102: Blinded Reference Set for Multicancer Early Detection Blood Tests
Led by Marie Wood, MD, of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, this study collects blood and tissue samples from patients with cancer, such as colorectal cancer, and without cancer to evaluate tests for early cancer detection. Researchers are collecting and storing samples of blood and tissue from patients with and without cancer to help develop tests for the early detection of cancers.
Alliance A232301CD: An Enhanced Ehealth and Chat-bot Enabled Delivery Model For Clinical Genetic Services In Community AYA Cancer Patients
Led by Angela Bradbury, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center, the AYA ACCESS study is enrolling cancer survivors, including those who had colorectal cancer, to study ways to address longstanding gaps in genetic services for adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 18 to 39, who often receive care in community settings with limited access to genetic specialists. Research shows that more than 10% of AYAs have familial predispositions to cancer in their DNA, yet many do not receive recommended genetic testing due to barriers such as geographic distance, lack of provider knowledge, and limited time for screening.
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The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is a national leader in advancing cancer research, uniting more than 25,000 cancer specialists at 115 main institutions and 1,400 affiliates across the U.S. and Canada. As part of the National Clinical Trials Network and a leading research base for the NCI Community Oncology Research Program, the Alliance conducts pioneering, practice-changing clinical trials that improve outcomes and reshape standards of care. Its work has led to multiple FDA approvals, influenced national guidelines, and produced hundreds of high-impact publications. More than 40,000 participants have taken part in Alliance studies, and its growing biospecimen repository now includes more than 1.5 million samples, collected over the past 30 years. Learn more at www.AllianceforClinicalTrialsinOncology.org.
