A study looking at the treatment of rectal cancer that starts very low down in the bowel (Low Rectal Cancer Study)
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is looking at ways to improve treatment for rectal cancer. The people taking part have bowel cancer that is very close to the 
.
More about this trial
Doctors usually treat cancer that starts in the with surgery. Some people may also have radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
When you have surgery to remove cancer, the doctors want to make sure that they take out an area of tissue around the cancer that doesn’t contain any cancer cells. This is what is known as a clear margin of tissue. This is important, because having a clear margin means there is less chance of the cancer coming back.
Scans such as an MRI can help doctors to plan and modify the operation and get clear margins. In this study, the researchers want to find out how much the scans help. They also want to find out how much treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy help. And they want to see what effect treatment has on people’s lives.
If you take part in the study, the researchers will look at your medical notes to find details of the scans, the type of operation and any other treatment you have. They will look at some of the tissue removed when you have your operation. And they will ask you to fill in a number of questionnaires.
The aims of the study are to
- See if it is possible to make sure that more people get clear margins when they have cancer removed from the lowest part of the rectum
- Find out how much this helps to reduce the number of cancers that come back
- Look at why some cancers do come back
- Learn more about side effects of treatment for rectal cancer and how this affects people’s quality of life
The researchers hope that the results of the study will improve rectal cancer treatment for people in the future.
Who can enter
You can enter this trial if you
- Have recently been diagnosed with rectal cancer that is very close to the anus
- Are at least 18 years old
You cannot enter this trial if you
- Have already had treatment for rectal cancer
- Have had radiotherapy to the
pelvis - Have had any other cancer in the pelvis or rectum (apart from
carcinoma in situ ) - Have had certain types of surgery to the pelvis (the trial doctors can advise you on this)
- Are not able to have an MRI scan (this could be because you have metal inside your body, for example, a joint replacement, a pacemaker or artificial heart valve)
- Are pregnant
Trial design
The study aims to recruit over 400 people in the UK. If you agree to take part, the researchers will get details about your treatment from your medical notes. They will also get a sample of the tissue removed when you have your surgery. And they will ask to you to fill in 10 or 11 questionnaires over the next 5 years.
The questionnaires will ask you about any side effects you have had and how you have been feeling. As well as asking about your general well being, there will be questions about how your bowel or (if you have one) has been working. They will ask if you have had problems such as weight loss, or difficulty passing urine. There will be some questions about your sex life and how you feel about your sexuality.
Hospital visits
You will not have to make any extra visits to hospital if you take part in this study. The researchers will send the questionnaires to you by post.
Side effects
There are no side effects from taking part in the study.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Prof Gina Brown
Mr Brendan Moran
Supported by
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Pelican Cancer Foundation
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
