Clinical Research Directory

Latitude - Lateral Lymph Node Attitude Study

Patients with advanced rectal cancer can sometimes have suspected tumour affected lymph nodes outside the standard operating field. These patients often receive preoperative treatment before surgery. There is a lack of consensus on what to do if there is remaining suspicion of tumour affected lymph nodes after the preoperative treatment. Removal of the lymph nodes using a broader surgical field with dissection of the lateral side-wall is often suggested, but the oncologic outcome is uncertain, and so is the patient reported outcome in terms of side effects. This study aims to study the surgical treatment of tumour affected lateral lymph nodes to understand what lymph nodes require removal, and what effect that will have on oncologic outcome and the patient's function and QoL.

Metabolomics to Predict Treatment Response and Toxicities in Rectal Cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Taiwan, with rectal cancer accounting for approximately 27% of all cases. Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), which consists of chemotherapy and radiation therapy delivered before surgery, has become the standard of care for locally advanced rectal cancer. However, there is currently no reliable method for predicting the response to TNT or the occurrence of radiation proctitis, a common side effect of treatment. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the metabolomic profiles of individuals with locally advanced rectal cancer undergoing TNT and to identify a panel of metabolites that can predict treatment response and toxicities. Methods: A prospective cohort study will be conducted to enrol patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who are scheduled to receive TNT. Blood, urine, tissue, and faecal samples will be collected at baseline, during, and after chemoradiotherapy. Metabolomic profiling of the samples will be performed using liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Treatment response will be assessed based on clinical downstaging (defined as a decrease in tumour size and/or T and N stage after TNT) and pathological response, such as pathological complete response (pCR). Radiation proctitis will be assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. PCA and PLSDA will be used to identify metabolites that are associated with treatment response and radiation proctitis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves will be used to assess the predictive performance of the identified metabolites. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression will be used to build models to predict treatment response and radiation proctitis.

Total Mesorectal Excision(TME) With Lateral Lymph Node Dissection Versus TME After Neoadjuvant Chemo-radiotherapy

Treatment for Low rectal cancer, especially in patients with regional lymph node metastasis are quite different between Japanese guideline (JSCCR) and western countries' guideline (NCCN, ESMO). While Japanese scholars advocate total mesorectal excision (TME) plus lateral lymph node dissection (LLND), European and American scholars advocate TME alone after Neoadjuvant Chemo-radiotherapy (nCRT), without the need of LLND. Accordingly, this clinical trial is designed to directly compare the efficacy and safety of these two treatment strategies for low rectal cancer with regional lymph node metastasis. It will provide high-level clinical evidence for the treatment of low rectal cancer with suspected local lymph node metastasis