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CompletedNCT03287843Updated Mar 31, 2022Results posted

Appropriate Timing of Surgery After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

An interventional study of Total mesorectal excision before 56 days (4-8 weeks) and Total mesorectal excision after 56 days (8-12 weeks) in Neoplasm, Rectum, sponsored by Ege University. Completed. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-03-31.

Sponsored by Ege University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
350
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 85 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of early versus late surgical resection in patients who underwent curative total mesorectal excision after neoadjuvant chemoradiation. Half of the participants will undergo surgery before 8 weeks, while the other half will undergo surgery after 8 weeks.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neoplasm, Rectum

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Keywords

  • Locally advanced rectal cancer
  • Neoadjuvant chemoradiation
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 85 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Clinic stage II-III cancer ( T3- T4 tm or/and N(+) disease )
  2. Patients with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the rectum
  3. Tumor distal border located within 15 cm. from anal verge (as measured by rigid rectoscopy)
  4. Standardized total mesorectal excision surgery
  5. Tumor must be clinically resectable with curative intent (R0 resection must be most likely)
  6. Elective operation
  7. The patient must consent to be in the study and the informed consent must be signed

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Clinic stage I and IV cancer disease
  2. Patients with malignant disease of the rectum other than adenocarcinoma
  3. Recurrent rectal cancer
  4. Emergency cases (Mechanical bowel obstruction, perforation)
  5. Other previous or concurrent malignancies
  6. Any contraindication for radiochemotherapy
  7. Previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy to the pelvis
  8. Tumor has arisen from chronic inflammatory bowel disease or hereditary polyposis disease
  9. American Society of Anesthesiologists Score >3 patients
04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
350 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Early surgery group

    İn this arm patients will go under surgery before eight weeks, after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.

    Procedure: Total mesorectal excision before 56 days (4-8 weeks)

  • Experimental
    Late surgery group

    İn this arm patients will go under surgery after eight weeks, after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy.

    Procedure: Total mesorectal excision after 56 days (8-12 weeks)

Interventions

  • ProcedureTotal mesorectal excision before 56 days (4-8 weeks)

    Low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection

  • ProcedureTotal mesorectal excision after 56 days (8-12 weeks)

    Low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pathological Complete Response Rate

    Complete pathological response, defined as the absence of viable tumor cells, may develop after neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer. Prognostic factors affecting pathological complete response will be evaluated.

    Time frame: 2 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Completeness of the Mesorectal Dissection

    Examination will be made in a fresh state for completeness of the mesorectal dissection and will be graded according to the criteria of Quirke as follows: Low: (Grade 1) Little bulk of the mesorectum with defects down into the muscularis propria and/or very irregular circumferential resection margin. Moderate: (Grade 2) Moderate bulk of the mesorectum but there is irregularity in the mesorectal surface. Moderate coning of the specimen toward the distal margin. At no site is the muscularis propria visible with exception of the insertion of the levator muscles. Moderate irregularity of the circumferential resection margin. High: (Grade 3) Intact mesorectum with smooth mesorectal surface. No defect deeper than 5 mm. No coning on the specimen. Smooth circumferential resection margins on slicing.

    Time frame: 30 days after surgery

  2. Tumour Regression Grade

    All pathological examinations were undertaken by two experienced gastrointestinal pathologists. Pathological treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was evaluated by a five-tiered system described by Mandard. Tumor regression grade groups were identified as: Grade 1: the absence of residual cancer Grade 2: the presence of residual cancer cells scattered throughout the fibrosis Grade 3: an increase in the number of residual cancer cells but fibrosis still predominant Grade 4: residual cancer outgrowing fibrosis Grade 5, the absence of regressive changes Grade 1 considered as complete response. Grade 2-4 considered as partial response and Grade 5 considered as no response.

    Time frame: 30 days after surgery

  3. Surgical Complications

    Morbidity will be assessed according to the classification of Clavien-Dindo as follows: Grade 1: Any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or surgical, endoscopic, and radiological interventions. Allowed therapeutic regimens are: drugs as antiemetics, antipyretics, analgetics, diuretics, electrolytes, and physiotherapy. This grade also includes wound infections opened at the bedside Grade 2: Requiring pharmacological treatment with drugs other than such allowed for grade I complications. Blood transfusions and total parenteral nutrition are also included. Grade 3: Requiring surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention (Grade 3a: Intervention not under general anesthesia, Grade 3b: Intervention under general anesthesia) Grade 4: Life-threatening complication requiring Intensive Care Unit management (Grade 4a: Single organ dysfunction (including dialysis), Grade 4b: Multiorgan dysfunction) Grade 5 Death

    Time frame: 90 days after surgery

  4. Recurrence

    Both pelvic recurrence and distant metastasis will be assessed.

    Time frame: 5 years after surgery

  5. Disease-free Survival

    Recurrence free survival

    Time frame: 5 years after surgery

  6. Overall Survival

    Total survival with or without disease

    Time frame: 5 years after surgery

06

Results

Posted Aug 29, 2019

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Started175175
Excluded128
Lost to follow up30
Completed160167
Not completed158

Outcome measures

PrimaryPathological Complete Response Rate

Complete pathological response, defined as the absence of viable tumor cells, may develop after neoadjuvant treatment for rectal cancer. Prognostic factors affecting pathological complete response will be evaluated.

Time frame:
2 months
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Pathological Complete Response Rate
ParticipantsClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Pathological Complete Response Rate1631
SecondaryCompleteness of the Mesorectal Dissection

Examination will be made in a fresh state for completeness of the mesorectal dissection and will be graded according to the criteria of Quirke as follows: Low: (Grade 1) Little bulk of the mesorectum with defects down into the muscularis propria and/or very irregular circumferential resection margin. Moderate: (Grade 2) Moderate bulk of the mesorectum but there is irregularity in the mesorectal surface. Moderate coning of the specimen toward the distal margin. At no site is the muscularis propria visible with exception of the insertion of the levator muscles. Moderate irregularity of the circumferential resection margin. High: (Grade 3) Intact mesorectum with smooth mesorectal surface. No defect deeper than 5 mm. No coning on the specimen. Smooth circumferential resection margins on slicing.

Time frame:
30 days after surgery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Completeness of the Mesorectal Dissection
ParticipantsClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Low58
Moderate1110
High144149
SecondaryTumour Regression Grade

All pathological examinations were undertaken by two experienced gastrointestinal pathologists. Pathological treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy was evaluated by a five-tiered system described by Mandard. Tumor regression grade groups were identified as: Grade 1: the absence of residual cancer Grade 2: the presence of residual cancer cells scattered throughout the fibrosis Grade 3: an increase in the number of residual cancer cells but fibrosis still predominant Grade 4: residual cancer outgrowing fibrosis Grade 5, the absence of regressive changes Grade 1 considered as complete response. Grade 2-4 considered as partial response and Grade 5 considered as no response.

Time frame:
30 days after surgery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Tumour Regression Grade
ParticipantsClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Mandard Grade 11631
Mandard Grade 23736
Mandard Grade 37367
Mandard Grade 43129
Mandard Grade 534
SecondarySurgical Complications

Morbidity will be assessed according to the classification of Clavien-Dindo as follows: Grade 1: Any deviation from the normal postoperative course without the need for pharmacological treatment or surgical, endoscopic, and radiological interventions. Allowed therapeutic regimens are: drugs as antiemetics, antipyretics, analgetics, diuretics, electrolytes, and physiotherapy. This grade also includes wound infections opened at the bedside Grade 2: Requiring pharmacological treatment with drugs other than such allowed for grade I complications. Blood transfusions and total parenteral nutrition are also included. Grade 3: Requiring surgical, endoscopic or radiological intervention (Grade 3a: Intervention not under general anesthesia, Grade 3b: Intervention under general anesthesia) Grade 4: Life-threatening complication requiring Intensive Care Unit management (Grade 4a: Single organ dysfunction (including dialysis), Grade 4b: Multiorgan dysfunction) Grade 5 Death

Time frame:
90 days after surgery
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Surgical Complications
ParticipantsClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Clavien Dindo 147
Clavien Dindo 21514
Clavien Dindo 3a43
Clavien Dindo 3b82
Clavien Dindo 4a42
Clavien Dindo 4b01
Clavien Dindo 514
No complication124134
SecondaryRecurrence

Both pelvic recurrence and distant metastasis will be assessed.

Time frame:
5 years after surgery

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

SecondaryDisease-free Survival

Recurrence free survival

Time frame:
5 years after surgery

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

SecondaryOverall Survival

Total survival with or without disease

Time frame:
5 years after surgery

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Adverse events

Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Classic Interval Group1/160 (0.6%)36/160 (22.5%)0/160 (0%)
Long Interval Group4/167 (2.4%)33/167 (19.8%)0/167 (0%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 12
Most frequent serious events
EventClassic Interval GroupLong Interval Group
Wound infectionSurgical and medical procedures6/1609/167
Prerenal insufficiencyRenal and urinary disorders5/1604/167
Mechanical bowel obstructionGastrointestinal disorders5/1604/167
Anastomotic leakageGastrointestinal disorders4/1604/167
OtherSurgical and medical procedures4/1600/167
Urinary tract infectioRenal and urinary disorders3/1602/167
PneumoniaRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders1/1603/167
Postoperative bleedingSurgical and medical procedures2/1602/167
AtelectasisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders2/1601/167
Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolismVascular disorders2/1602/167

Baseline characteristics

350 patients were randomly assigned. After perioperative evaluation of 350 patients who underwent CRT , 15 patients in the CI group (no surgery, 5; R2 resection, 5; stage IV disease, 2; lost to follow-up, 3) and eight in the LI group (no surgery, 4; R2 resection, 2; stage IV disease, 2) were excluded from the study. 327 included in the analysis.

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Classic Interval GroupLong Interval GroupTotal
Mean60.4 (22 to 85)61.7 (32 to 85)61.0 (22 to 85)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Classic Interval GroupLong Interval GroupTotal
Female6571136
Male9596191
07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Publications

  • Akgun E, Caliskan C, Bozbiyik O, Yoldas T, Doganavsargil B, Ozkok S, Kose T, Karabulut B, Elmas N, Ozutemiz O. Effect of interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery on disease recurrence and survival in rectal cancer: long-term results of a randomized clinical trial. BJS Open. 2022 Sep 2;6(5):zrac107. doi: 10.1093/bjsopen/zrac107. PubMed 36254732 ↗
  • Akgun E, Caliskan C, Bozbiyik O, Yoldas T, Sezak M, Ozkok S, Kose T, Karabulut B, Harman M, Ozutemiz O. Randomized clinical trial of short or long interval between neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery for rectal cancer. Br J Surg. 2018 Oct;105(11):1417-1425. doi: 10.1002/bjs.10984. Epub 2018 Aug 29. PubMed 30155949 ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03287843
Lead sponsor
Ege University
Responsible party
Zekeriya Erhan Akgün (Professor of surgery, Ege University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Sep 19, 2017
Start date
Jan 1, 2006
Primary completion
Jan 1, 2017
Completion
Jan 1, 2022
Results posted
Aug 29, 2019
Last update
Mar 31, 2022

Study contacts

Z.Erhan Akgun, Proffesor
principal investigator · Ege University

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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