An observational study in Colorectal (Colon or Rectal) Cancer, sponsored by University of Chicago. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-09.
Sponsored by University of Chicago · Observational
The purpose of this study is to look at how bacteria present within the stool at the time of surgery and postoperatively may contribute to the development of cancer recurrence after surgery. By collecting stool and blood before and after surgery, the researchers hope to determine if certain types of bacteria, or products that the bacteria produce, promote the development of tumors after surgery. By collecting tumor tissue and growing cell lines, we hope this will help researchers better understand the behavior of these types of tumors.
The purpose of this study is to collect stool, blood, and tissue samples both before and after patients undergo surgery for colon cancer. These samples will be analyzed for their bacterial composition and function, and assayed for bacterial-derived metabolites. Additionally, these samples will be tested in the laboratory for their ability to promote tumor formation in cancer cells and in animal models of surgery. Finally, patients will undergo nutritional surveys to document their current nutritional intake. Integration of the patient's nutritional intake with the data from the analyzed biospecimens will allow the researchers to determine if these bacteria and/or their metabolites are more prevalent in patients who eat certain diets. Taken together, results from this study will provide knowledge as to the mechanisms by which tumors form after surgery and potentially allow for future therapies to prevent it.
1,432 studies on the registry are indexed under Colonic Neoplasms; 357 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 107 is below the median of 280 across 349 observational studies indexed under Colonic Neoplasms.
Browse Colonic Neoplasms studies →University of Chicago is the lead sponsor of 907 studies on the registry; 182 are open to participants now.
Of its 99 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 68 (69%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
patients undergoing Colorectal Surgery
Exclusion Criteria:
Collagenase Activity
Measure collagenase activity present within the stool at the time of surgery to determine if it will be significantly higher in patients who later develop recurrence compared to patients who do not. Assessing further if patients who are the most nutritionally at risk for the development of recurrence will have the highest amounts of bacterial collagenase.
Time frame: From Enrollment to 12 months postoperative.
Stool Metagenomics
Assess the correlation of the bacterial community with nutritional intake and the development of colorectal cancer recurrence. Bacterial community analysis will be performed via shotgun metagenomics.
Time frame: From Enrollment to 12 months postoperative.
Stool metabolomics
Assess the correlation of the bacterial derived metabolites with nutritional intake and the development of colorectal cancer recurrence. Bacterial community analysis will be performed via short chain fatty acid metabolomics.
Time frame: From Enrollment to 12 months postoperative.
Serum Metabolomics
Assess the correlation of the bacterial derived metabolites with nutritional intake and the development of colorectal cancer recurrence. Bacterial community analysis will be performed via short chain fatty acid metabolomics.
Time frame: From Enrollment to 12 months postoperative
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Chicago