Three Versus 6 Months of Adjuvant Oxaliplatin-Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer: Final Results of SCOT—An International, Randomized, Phase III, Noninferiority Trial

T Timothy Iveson (University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom) M Mark P. Saunders (The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom) C Caroline Kelly (Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) R Rachel S. Kerr J Jim Cassidy (Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) N Niels Henrik Hollander (Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Naestved, Denmark) J Josep Tabernero (Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, Barcelona) A Andrew Haydon (Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia) B Bengt Glimelius A Andrea Harkin (Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) K Karen Allan (Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) J John McQueen (Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) S Sarah Pearson (OCTO, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom) K Kathleen A. Boyd (Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) A Andrew H. Briggs (Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom) A Ashita Waterston (Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, NHS GGC HB, Glasgow, United Kingdom) L Louise Medley (Royal United Hospital, Bath, United Kingdom) R Richard Ellis (Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cornwall, United Kingdom) A Amandeep S. Dhadda (Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, United Kingdom) M Mark Harrison (Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom) S Stephen Falk (Bristol Cancer Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom) C Charlotte Rees (Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom) R René K. Olesen (Department of Oncology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark) D David Propper (Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom) J John Bridgewater A Ashraf Azzabi (Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United Kingdom) D David Cunningham T Tamas Hickish (University Hospitals Dorset/Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom) S Simon Gollins (North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, Rhyl, United Kingdom) H Harpreet S. Wasan (Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom) D David Church (Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom) E Enric Domingo (Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom)

Abstract

Adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) with oxaliplatin and fluoropyrimidine was traditionally given for 6 months but is associated with cumulative peripheral neuropathy. The SCOT study (ISRCTN59757862) was an international, randomized, phase III, noninferiority trial investigating treatment reduction from 6 to 3 months. It originally reported noninferior disease-free survival with reduced toxicity and improved quality of life for 3 months of treatment in 6,088 patients. Here, we report overall survival (OS) with 38 months of additional follow-up. Patients with high-risk stage II and stage III CRC were assigned (1:1) to receive 3 or 6 months of either capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) or infusional fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX; bolus and infused fluorouracil with oxaliplatin) that were selected before random assignment. With a median of 113 months follow-up and 1,255 OS events, 5-year OS for 3 versus 6 months of treatment was 82.4% in both groups (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.8 to 1.07), proving noninferiority of 3 months of treatment. Noninferiority of 3 months of treatment for OS was also shown in 1,087 patients with rectal cancer. The duration effect is regimen-dependent with noninferiority shown for CAPOX but not for FOLFOX. In summary, SCOT has shown noninferiority for OS with 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment, which should be recommended for most patients.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 7
Published March 01, 2026
Pages 534-539
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (32)

T

Timothy Iveson

University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom

M

Mark P. Saunders

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom

C

Caroline Kelly

Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

R

Rachel S. Kerr

J

Jim Cassidy

Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

N

Niels Henrik Hollander

Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Zealand University Hospital, Naestved, Denmark

J

Josep Tabernero

Vall d’Hebron Hospital Campus, Barcelona

A

Andrew Haydon

Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

B

Bengt Glimelius

A

Andrea Harkin

Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

K

Karen Allan

Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

J

John McQueen

Glasgow Oncology Clinical Trials Unit, School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

S

Sarah Pearson

OCTO, Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

K

Kathleen A. Boyd

Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

A

Andrew H. Briggs

Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom

A

Ashita Waterston

Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, NHS GGC HB, Glasgow, United Kingdom

L

Louise Medley

Royal United Hospital, Bath, United Kingdom

R

Richard Ellis

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Cornwall, United Kingdom

A

Amandeep S. Dhadda

Castle Hill Hospital, Hull, United Kingdom

M

Mark Harrison

Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom

S

Stephen Falk

Bristol Cancer Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom

C

Charlotte Rees

Southampton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, United Kingdom

R

René K. Olesen

Department of Oncology, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

D

David Propper

Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, London, United Kingdom

J

John Bridgewater

A

Ashraf Azzabi

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, United Kingdom

D

David Cunningham

T

Tamas Hickish

University Hospitals Dorset/Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom

S

Simon Gollins

North Wales Cancer Treatment Centre, Rhyl, United Kingdom

H

Harpreet S. Wasan

Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom

D

David Church

Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

E

Enric Domingo

Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom