Addition of Sintilimab to Total Neoadjuvant Treatment in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

A phase II trial (SPRING-01) in China revealed that combining sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, with chemotherapy after short-course radiotherapy significantly improved the pathologic complete response rate in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Conducted at Shandong Provincial Hospital, the study involved 98 patients diagnosed between October 2021 and September 2023. Results showed 59.2% pathologic complete response in the sintilimab group compared to 32.7% in controls, suggesting potential synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy for treatment.