Active clinical trials for "Colorectal Neoplasms"

Through this program, the investigators will test a systematic colon cancer screening outreach strategy for increasing screening completion among uninsured patients, not up-to-date with screening. The intervention will consist of mailed screening invitations, with processes such as phone reminders to promote screening and evidence based follow up. All patients will be randomly assigned to receive mailed invitations to complete a home fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Some patients will be randomly assigned to receive a small financial incentive on completion of FIT testing.

To compare the outcomes of fast track laparoscopic surgery and conventional laparoscopic surgery.

Objective: To assess the effect of bevacizumab on tumor vessels, and the reversibility of the effect, using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and histology in patients with metastatic liver tumors derived from colorectal cancer. Background Data: Direct evidence on the reversibility of any change in tumor vascularity upon bevacizumab cessation in the clinical setting is lacking. Methods: The study included 10 patients who received chemotherapy including bevacizumab, experienced a reduction in tumor vascularity as demonstrated by CEUS and consequently underwent liver resection. CEUS was performed before and immediately after 4 courses of chemotherapy and one day before surgery. The number of microvessels highlighted by anti-CD34 antibody in the viable tumor tissue was counted to quantify the microvessel density (MVD). As a control, 10 surgical specimens from 10 patients who had not received chemotherapy were examined.

Over the last decades different life style factors have been established as risk factors for various diseases. The obesity pandemic displays a good example of a disease where great effort is undertaken to characterize risk factors associated with obesity (1). Smoking is another life style risk factor established since several decades, and where primary prevention has been increasingly successful (2, 3). Cardiovascular epidemiologic research at the University of Gothenburg recognized PA as a factor of importance early on and thus included PA related questions in the work up of studies with large cohorts (4-6). A 4-level scale was introduced in the late 1960:s by Saltin and Grimby (7) and has been used extensively since then. With this background it is of interest to record physical activity one year and one month prior to certain types of elective surgery and to study the relationship of PA to surgical complications and recovery is of interest. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a higher physical activity prior to a surgical procedure reduces hospital stay, sick leave and the complication rate. A secondary aim is to investigate the effect of preoperative physical activity on the rate of resumption of QoL and normal physical function.

Selenium's ability to prevent colorectal cancer (CRC) has been suspected for nearly 30 years, but has never been directly studied in humans. The investigators will directly assess selenium's ability to prevent CRC by measuring alterations in aberrant crypt foci (ACF), an accepted surrogate marker for CRC. ACF's are very small (i.e., microscopic) collections of abnormally shaped cells that are a commonly used marker of CRC risk. Screening colonoscopy at UIC routinely uses methods that allow ACF counting to be done as a part of standard practice. ACF's are not fixed, like polyps or cancers, but can disappear as a person's risk for developing CRC decreases. The investigators propose giving patient's with 6 or more ACF's 200 mcg selenized yeast or placebo, and determining if there is a drug-dependant decrease in ACF number. The primary objective is to determine whether selenized yeast supplementation, compared to placebo, causes significant reduction of ACF number from baseline levels. The primary endpoint will be change in ACF number

The risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is significant among cancer survivors treated with abdominal radiation therapy (RT). Further, CRC is once of the few cancers for which there is effective screening. Although some expert groups recommend early CRC screening for patients with prior abdominal RT, the effectiveness of early screening is unknown. It is also unknown if radiation-induced CRC passes through a "pre-clinical" phase in which precancerous polyps are detectable and treatable prior to becoming invasive cancers. This study will evaluate whether screening will detect pre-invasive colorectal polyps among survivors treated with RT.

To develop a system to manage side effects and adjust chemotherapy dose such that a patient can receive their personal maximum tolerated dose.

Study hypothesis : early decrease in fdg-pet measured SUV max after 1 cycle of chemotherapy can accurately predict response of chemotherapy as assessed by conventional radiology after 3 cycles of chemotherapy. FDG-PET imaging will be done at J0 and J14 of a new line of chemotherapy treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer. SUV max will be recorded and delta SUVmax will be compared to the results of conventional radiological evaluation after 3 courses of chemotherapy. Results will also be compared to the time to disease progression.

RATIONALE: Collecting information about the quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer may help doctors learn more about the disease. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the European Organization of Research for the Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality-of-life-questionnaire in patients with colorectal cancer.

RATIONALE: Gathering medical and family history information from patients and family members may help doctors better understand hereditary colorectal cancer and hereditary polyposis syndrome and identify patients at high risk of developing hereditary colorectal cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is collecting information from patients and family members with hereditary colorectal cancer or polyposis syndrome or who are at high risk of developing hereditary colorectal cancer.