Active clinical trials for "Rectal Neoplasms"

The objective of the present project is to validate the feasibility of a multimodal radiological pathway while on chemoradiotherapy, in order to validate potentially predictive factors for chemoradiotherapy sensitivity of rectal adenocarcinomas.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether anesthesia maintained with propofol results in better one- and five-year-survival than anesthesia maintained with sevoflurane.

This randomized pilot clinical trial studies Yoga Skills Training or attention control in reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms during chemotherapy in patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer. Yoga Skills Training consists of meditation, movement and breathing practices that aim to promote mindfulness and relaxation. Attention control consists of conversations with a caring professional with a recommendation to complete daily home diaries. It is not yet known whether Yoga Skills Training is better than attention control at reducing fatigue and depressive symptoms in patients undergoing chemotherapy.The purpose of this initial feasibility study is to refine study procedures.

In health care, the phone has emerged as a clinical tool in its own right, especially for the development of psychological support to patients and that, in many pathologies. Its potential in the development of psycho-social support was quickly identified. However, to our knowledge, no prospective, randomized studies have evaluated the impact of a telephone call to both the anxiety and the management of side effects of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. The patient incomplete care by the hospital system and the general practitioner during chemotherapy, as well as the lack of information and poor preparation and / or management of side effects, are a source of distress and lead to a decrease quality of life for the patient and his family. We propose to determine on a population of 280 patients, the impact of two phone calls during 3 first inter-treatment intervals on the overall measure of mood states of the patient and his principal caregiver (anxiety, depression, confusion, angry, fatigue, force and interpersonal relation). We will also study the gain in quality of life, on anxiety level, frequency and severity of toxicities, as well as emotional comfort of the procedure.

Patients' ability to tolerate surgery is associated with physical fitness: less fit patients have an increased rate of death and serious complications following major surgery. Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (x-rays) prior to rectal cancer surgery is known as neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) and is associated with improved cancer removal but adversely affects physical fitness. In Liverpool, the investigators have pre-pilot data showing that NACRT reduces objectively measured physical fitness (measured by cardiopulmonary exercise testing) in patients having surgery. This pre-pilot study investigated the effects of a 6-week structured responsive endurance training programme (SRETP) after NACRT and before cancer surgery. This programme has improved both their fitness and their health related quality of life(HRQL). Now, the investigators are undertaking a randomised controlled trial to compare changes in patient's physical fitness in response to SRETP with a group of patients who will be given exercise advice. The SRETP group will exercise 3 times a week for 9 weeks. The investigators will make objective measurements of physical fitness in both groups. The investigators will monitor patient's perceptions of the training programme, HRQL, daily activity (using an accelerometer), and outcomes after surgery. The investigators believe that, patients in the exercise group will improve their physical fitness prior to surgery, change behaviour towards exercise, improve activity and HRQL following NACRT. These results will contribute to the design of a large, multi-centre trial to determine whether a SRETP increases physical fitness with a reduction in adverse outcome following surgery. The investigators will conduct an adequately powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing a SRETP with 'exercise advice' in 46 rectal cancer patients. Specifically, we will test the following hypotheses and outcomes: PRIMARY HYPOTHESIS A 9-week, structured responsive endurance training programme (SRETP) compared with a control group (no training) will result in a clinically significant difference in physical fitness (2.0ml/kg/min VO2 at LT) post-NACRT prior to surgery. SECONDARY OUTCOMES A 9-week SRETP compared with a control group (no training) will result in a clinically significant difference in physical fitness (2.0ml/kg/min VO2Peak) in patients who have had NACRT prior to surgery. SRETP following NACRT and prior to cancer surgery will provide psychological health benefits and improve patient's HRQL (assessed by semi-structured interviews and questionnaires -EORTC QLQ-30 and EQ-5D). This will provide vital exploratory information that will inform a future application to deliver a larger appropriately powered RCT exploring the hypothesis that patients with greater pre-operative fitness will encounter lower postoperative morbidity and mortality. Specifically, these exploratory outcomes are: EXPLORATORY OUTCOMES To investigate whether SRETP following NACRT and prior to surgery is associated with a change in overall physical activity (assessed by the number of steps while active using an accelerometer). To investigate whether there is a change in the day 7 surgical morbidity (using the Post-Operative Morbidity Survey) and mortality. The effect of SRETP on cancer downstaging post-NACRT (Tumour, Node and Metastasis Staging-TNM staging).

Survivorship Care Planning may improve overall well-being and quality of life of colorectal and lung cancer survivors

A low level of oxygen in cancer cells makes them less likely to respond to chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. There is interest in using new drugs that improve the level of oxygen in tumours. Another approach would be to increase the radiotherapy dose to tumours with low oxygen levels. Before we can do this for patients with rectal cancer, we need to develop a reliable way of identifying areas of low oxygen within the rectal tumour. This will make us able to tell which patients may be suitable for such a change in their treatment. Traditionally, the level of oxygen in tumours is measured by inserting a needle into the tumour and measuring it directly. This is not possible in rectal cancer. This study has been designed to identify the best alternative method. We would like to do a blood test, take samples of cancer tissue and some detailed scans (18F-fluoromisonidazole (F-MISO) positron emission tomography, perfusion computed tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging). The results of these tests will be compared to decide which gives us the most comprehensive and reliable information. Patients in Group A go straight to surgery. By looking for markers of low oxygen levels on the tumour that has been removed, we will be able to find out which of the study tests performed before the tumour was removed is the best. By repeating the scans we will be able to see how reliable they are and how much they change on a day to day basis. We think that tumours that still have low levels of oxygen after 8 to 10 doses of radiotherapy are the least likely to respond to treatment. Group B will have scans before radiotherapy treatment and after 8 to 10 doses of radiotherapy to see if we can identify the patients that have persistent low levels of oxygen.

The aim of this pilot study is to investigate effectiveness, tolerability and safety of an oral nutritional supplement (PreOP Booster), given to rectal tumour patients prior to low anterior resection.

This pilot phase II study is designed as a test and retest study to investigate [F 18]HX4 as a reliable non-invasive PET imaging marker for detection of tumor hypoxia regions and to establish a threshold for [F 18]HX4 uptake in the tumor. The study will evaluate the relationship between hypoxia biomarkers (HIF1α and CA-IX) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and tumor uptake of [F 18]HX4 by PET imaging.

Study Investigators are conducting this study to learn how to best implement a new iPad program in clinical practice.