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RecruitingNCT03748680IMPROVE-ITUpdated Feb 25, 2022

IMPROVE Intervention Trial Implementing Non-invasive Circulating Tumor DNA Analysis to Optimize the Operative and Postoperative Treatment for Patients With Colorectal Cancer

A Phase 2 interventional study of Capox (or FOLFOX) including flouropyrimidine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy and Intensified Follow-up Schedule in Colorectal Cancer, Circulating Tumor DNA and Adjuvant Chemotherapy, sponsored by Karen-Lise Garm Spindler. Recruiting at 4 sites in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-02-25.

Sponsored by Karen-Lise Garm Spindler · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Oct 2023, 3 years ago, but the record still lists the study as recruiting.
  • Started Oct 2018; still recruiting 8 years later.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
64
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

A open label 1:1 randomized phase II exploratory study investigating adjuvant therapy in patients with molecular biologically detectable residual disease after primary resection for localized colorectal tumors.

Read the detailed description

The main clinical hypothesis is that patients having undergone radical resection from CRC do not present with detectable tumor DNA in the plasma, whereas patients with detectable tumor DNA two weeks' post surgery have residual microscopic disease, and consequently a high risk of diseases recurrence which can be prevented with adjuvant chemotherapy.

The primary aim of the present study is to investigate - in a randomized trial - if use of standard adjuvant chemotherapy therapy improves the disease free survival in patients with molecular biological residual disease where adjuvant chemotherapy is not standard treatment .

Secondary aims include investigating molecular biological response to adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with post-operative ctDNA.

02

Conditions studied

  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Circulating Tumor DNA
  • Adjuvant Chemotherapy
  • Progression Free Survival
03

In context

Colorectal Neoplasms

5,599 studies on the registry are indexed under Colorectal Neoplasms; 1,459 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 64 is below the median of 77 across 4,123 interventional studies indexed under Colorectal Neoplasms.

Browse Colorectal Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Karen-Lise Garm Spindler is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 3 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Surgically removed Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum
  • Pathologically stage I or II disease, and radical resection
  • Detectable ctDNA in two weeks postoperative plasma sample
  • No indication for adjuvant chemotherapy according to DCCG guidelines (website)
  • Age at least 18 years
  • ECOG performance status 0-2
  • Clinically eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy at investigators decision.
  • Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function allowing systemic chemotherapy (Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5x109/l and thrombocytes ≥ 100x109/l. Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper normal value and alanine aminotransferase ≤ 3 x upper normal value, and Calculated or measured renal glomerular filtration rate at least 30 mL/min)
  • Anticonception for fertile women and for male patients with a fertile partner. Intrauterine device, vasectomy of a female subject's male partner or hormonal contraceptive are acceptable •
  • Written and verbally informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Radiological evidence of distant metastasis, by CT- chest and abdomen
  • Incapacity, frailty, disability and comorbidity to a degree that according to the investigator is not compatible with combination chemotherapy
  • Previous treatment with 5FU or oxaliplatin
  • Neuropathy NCI grade > 1
  • Other malignant tumor within 5 years except non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ cervicis uteri
  • Pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or breast feeding women
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
64 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    A

    Intensified follow-up schedule

    Other: Intensified Follow-up Schedule

  • Experimental
    B

    Adjuvant chemotherapy + intensified follow-up schedule

    Drug: Capox (or FOLFOX) including flouropyrimidine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy

Interventions

  • DrugCapox (or FOLFOX) including flouropyrimidine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy

    Six months of adjuvant combination chemotherapy with Capox (or FOLFOX) Patients will receive adjuvant chemotherapy with eight cycles of CAPOX (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 day 1 and capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 b.i.d. days 1-14, repeated every 3 weeks. (Patients with an ileostomy are only eligible for FOLFOX and will be treated with 12 cycles of FOLFOX (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 day 1, leucovorin 400 mg/m2 day 1, 5FU 400 mg/m2 bolus day 1 and 5FU 2400 mg/ m2 over 46-48 hours day 1-3, repeated every second weeks)

  • OtherIntensified Follow-up Schedule

    Close monitoring with Imaging during follow-up Patients included in this trial will undergo intensified follow-up with CT-chest and abdomen every four months after surgery for the first 2 years, then every 6 months for 1 years and finally once yearly for the last 2 years up to 5 years follow-up is completed.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. DFS

    Disease free survival

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Molecular biological response

    Molecular biological response at 6 months

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. MB-DFS

    Molecular biological disease free survival at 1 year

    Time frame: 1 year

  3. TT-MBR

    Time to molecular biological recurrence

    Time frame: 3 years

  4. TTR

    Time to radiological recurrence

    Time frame: 3 years

  5. LRR

    Local recurrence rate

    Time frame: 3 years

  6. DRR

    Distant recurrence rate

    Time frame: 3 years

  7. OS

    Overall survival

    Time frame: 5 years

  8. TR

    Translational research exploratory

    Time frame: 3 years

07

Study locations

4 of 4 sites recruiting
  • Aalborg University Hospital
    Aalborg, Denmark
    Recruiting
  • Aarhus University Hospital
    Aarhus, 8000, Denmark
    • Karen-Lise G Spindler, Prof. · Contact · k.g.spindler@rm.dk · +457846 2535
    • Line M Sparvath, CRN · Contact · linspa@rm.dk · 457846 2610
    • Søren Lauerberg, Prof. · Sub investigator
    • Claus L Andersen, Prof. · Sub investigator
    Recruiting
  • Herlev Hospital
    Herlev, Denmark
    Recruiting
  • Odense University Hospital
    Odense, Denmark
    Recruiting
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Feb 25, 2022, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03748680
Lead sponsor
Karen-Lise Garm Spindler
Responsible party
Karen-Lise Garm Spindler (Professor, Aarhus University Hospital) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Nov 21, 2018
Start date
Oct 1, 2018
Primary completion
Oct 1, 2023 (estimated)
Completion
Oct 1, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Feb 25, 2022

Study contacts

Karen-Lise G Spindler, Professor
Contact
k.g.spindler@rm.dk
0045 7846 2535 ext. +4578462535
Karen-Lise G Spindler, Professor
Contact
k.g.spindler@rm.dk
+4578462535 ext. +4578462535

Oversight

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

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