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Rectal CancerLOTARTMENCT04949672

Pathology Assessment of Mesorectal Fascia After TME by Laparoscopic, Open, TransAnal and Robotic Approaches (LOTARTME)

An observational study of Rectal Cancer and Surgery, run by San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital at 1 site in Italy.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

TME is the gold standard surgical treatment of rectal cancer. Specimen quality, integrity of mesorectal fascia and lymph nodes harvest are expression of radicality and good surgery. The LOTARTME study is designed to assess which of the open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic transanal approach is superior. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any age
Conditions the study is for
Rectal Cancer, Surgery
How many people
153 participants
Where
1 siteItaly
Study dates
Jan 2017to 29 Jun 2021
How long will I take part?
4 Years
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: Stage 1 and 2 rectal cancer patients (preoperative assessment) undergoing surgery without neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Stage 3 and 4 rectal cancer patients undergoing surgery after long-term or short-term chemoradiation therapy.

Who may be able to join

  • intent to treat procedures
  • procedures performed by experienced surgeons (minimum of 100 TME)

Who cannot join

  • palliation surgery
  • multivisceral resections
  • procedures performed by inexperienced surgeons (less of 100 TME)

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

Italy1 site
  • San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital Complex

    Roma, RM, 00182

Other trials in Italy

About this study

Official title: Pathology Assessment of Mesorectal Fascia and Specimen Quality After TME by Laparoscopic, Open, TransAnal and Robotic Approaches (LOTARTME)

TME is the gold standard surgical treatment of rectal cancer. Specimen quality, integrity of mesorectal fascia and lymph nodes harvest are expression of radicality and good surgery. The LOTARTME study is designed to assess which of the open, laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic transanal approach is superior. Primary outcome is the evaluation of completeness of mesorectal fascia according to Quirke classification. Secondary outcomes are lymph nodes harvest, local recurrences, overall survivals, cancer related survivals. Inclusion criteria: any patient of any age and sex undergoing to intent-to-treat surgery operated by experienced surgeon. Exclusion criteria: patients with rectal cancer undergoing palliative surgery or multivisceral resection; all patients operated by less experienced surgeons. Study period January 1, 2017 - June 30 2021 and patients enrollment: January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2020. Data collection and analysis: data are collected in a prospective database and statical analysis is carried out using AnalystSoft StatPlus for Windows Software.

Read the detailed description

Developed in 1992 by Heald Total Mesorectal Excision improved the long-term results of rectal cancer treatment with overall survivals increasing up to 80% and local recurrences decreasing down to 4%. Notwithstanding the introduction of laparoscopy and robotic technology and their application in the field of rectal cancer surgery in the last decades, no further improvement of rectal cancer survivals have been reported. Actually, completeness of mesorectal fat and fascia excision seems not to be improved with these new approaches, compared to standard open surgery. It has been proved that local recurrences are strictly related to the quality of TME and are significantly higher when mesorectal fascia is incomplete according to Quirke classification. In 2012 A. Lacy first reported the transanal approach to TME, developed to overcome the high challenges represented by low rectal dissection when difficult anatomy is present (i.e. obese pts, narrow pelvis, bulging tumors) that may impair the quality of surgical specimen and, therefore, increase the incidence of local recurrences and, indirectly, overall cancer related survivals. There is an ongoing clinical trial (COLOR III) that has been designed to assess whether long term results after TaTME are similar, better or worse than those of open or laparoscopic TME. Until then scientists and researchers may evaluate the effectiveness of TaTME compared to other surgical approaches (open, laparoscopic, robotic) assessing the quality of surgical specimens (i.e. completeness of mesorectal excision and integrity of mesorectal fascia according to Quirke classification). Investigators have designed a prospective observational cohort study assessing the quality of specimen and mesorectal fascia in all patients undergoing TME through an open, laparoscopic, robotic and transanal (TaTME) approach between January 2017 and December 2020. All patients have been followed-up with a required minimum follow-up of 6 months. Therefore, the study was terminated on June 2021. Inclusion criteria were: any patient of any age and sex undergoing intent-to-treat surgery operated by experienced surgeon (with ≥ 100 TME performed). Exclusion criteria: patients with rectal cancer undergoing palliative surgery or multivisceral resection, all patients operated by less experienced surgeons (< 100 TME performed).

Objective of the study:

Assessing the quality of the specimen after TME carried out through laparoscopic, open, robotic and endoscopic transanal approach; evaluating whether TaTME might be superior the other approaches in term of radicality of surgery and local recurrencies.

Primary outcome:

Quirke classification of mesorectal fat and fascia completeness. Three grade classification: complete, nearly complete, incomplete.

Secondary outcomes Lymph node harvest Local recurrences Overall survivals Cancer specific survivals Pathology assessment

A fresh specimen or in vacuum packing is sent for macroscopic assessment to the pathologist. The specimen is dealt as follows:

  1. assessment of mesorectum quality; 2) ink painting of specimen non-peritonealized bare areas 3) the specimen is opened along the anterior aspect from the top and the bottom, leaving the bowel intact at a level just above and just below the tumour; 4) placement of formalin-soaked gauze wicks into the unopened ends of the bowel; 5) the specimen is fixed in 10% buffered formalin for at least 48 hours.

The fixed specimen is dealt as follows:

  1. 3-5 mm intervals slices through the unopened rectum; 2) slices inspection to note: extent of tumour and the closest distance of tumour to the Circumferential Resection Margin (CRM); positive nodes and the distance of any positive node to the CRM; anterior, posterior or lateral closest distance of tumour to CRM; 3) lymph nodes detection within the fat away from the tumour

Block selection according to the followings:

  1. tumor blocks showing closest CRM; 2) tumor blocks showing luminal aspect, 3) all lymph nodes; 4) any polyps; 5) proximal and distal resection margins (distal margin includes both mucosa and mesorectum).

The pathologist examined the specimen in a blinded fashion (unaware of the name of the operating surgeon and the technique performed).

Data are collected in a prospective database. Statistical analysis is carried out with AnalystSoft StatPlus for Windows Software. Chi-square test and chi-square test with Yates correction are used considering p-value significative at p<.05.

Keywords
TME, TransAnal TME, Mesorectal Fascia, Rectal Cancer Surgery
Medical subject headings
Rectal Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT04949672
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Open TMETotal Mesorectal Excision (TME) is the gold standard surgical treatment of rectal cancer. According to the technique first described by Bill Heald, TME entails the resection of the rectum including the whole mesorectal fat and an intact mesorectal fascia. Open TME is accomplished through a midline xifo-umbilical laparotomy and requires a complete mobilization of the left colon and central ligature of inferior mesenteric artery and vein.
Laparoscopic TMELaparoscopic TME mirrors the procedure performed through laparotomy with the same operative steps and performing rectal resection including the excision of the surrounding mesorectal fat and fascia.
Robotic TMERobotic TME mirrors the procedure described by Bill Heald for open surgery but the operation is performed by the master-slave DaVinci System under 3D laparoscopic guidance. The rectal resection is performed including mesorectal fat and fascia.
TransAnal TMETaTME has first described by Antonio Lacy in 2012. This procedure has two steps: abdominal and perineal. The abdominal step is performed through a laparoscopic approach as described for laparoscopic TME but the caudal dissection is stopped right below the level of the peritoneal rectal reflection (Douglas pouch). The perineal step is accomplished transanally inserting a specially designed platform into the anal canal and performing the total mesorectal excision under endoscopic guidance.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Completeness of mesorectal fascia and specimen quality (specimen integrity after rectal resection)

    Specimen quality i.e. integrity of mesorectal fascia and clearance of radial margins are an important factor with impact on local recurrency of rectal cancer. the 3-grade Quirke classification is used to assess completeness of mesorectal fascia: complete, nearly complete and incomplete

    Measured: 4 years

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Lymph node harvest

    The number of lymph nodes harvested may influence patient's prognosis and survival. A minimum number of nodes is required to assess the cancer stage correctly: stage 2 rectal cancer with a less than 12 node harvest has a behaviour of a stage 3 rectal cancer in the medium and long term follow up.

    Measured: 4 years

  2. Local recurrence

    Local recurrence rate is intended the incidence of pelvic tumor recurrence, especially localized in the presacral area, and anastomotic recurrence

    Measured: up to 54-month follow-up (range 6-54 months) with a median follow up respectively 54, 39, 38, 39,5 months for the open TME group, for the laparoscopic TME group, for the robotic TME group and for the TaTME group. Overall median FU = 44 months.

  3. Overal survivals

    short and medium term survivals (Kaplan-Meier estimate)

    Measured: Overall median follow-up 44 months (FU range 6-54 months), median follow-up per study group: Open TME 54 months, Laparoscopic TME 39 months, Robotic TME 38 months, TaTME 39,5 months.

  4. Cancer specific survival (CSS)

    Cancer-specific survival (CSS) is defined as the duration from the date of diagnosis until death due to rectal cancer other than other causes

    Measured: Overall median follow-up 44 months (FU range 6-54 months), median follow-up per study group: Open TME 54 months, Laparoscopic TME 39 months, Robotic TME 38 months, TaTME 39,5 months.

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted2 Jul 2021
  2. Study startJan 2017
  3. Primary completionDec 2020
  4. Study completion29 Jun 2021

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrolment
153 participants (actual)
Target duration
4 Years
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04949672
Sponsor's protocol ID
SGAddolorataH
Acronym
LOTARTME
Status last verified
Jun 2021
First submitted
2 Jun 2021
Last updated
2 Jul 2021
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Barnajian M, Pettet D 3rd, Kazi E, Foppa C, Bergamaschi R. Quality of total mesorectal excision and depth of circumferential resection margin in rectal cancer: a matched comparison of the first 20 robotic cases. Colorectal Dis. 2014 Aug;16(8):603-9. doi: 10.1111/codi.12634.

    PubMed 24750995
  • Parfitt JR, Driman DK. The total mesorectal excision specimen for rectal cancer: a review of its pathological assessment. J Clin Pathol. 2007 Aug;60(8):849-55. doi: 10.1136/jcp.2006.043802. Epub 2006 Oct 17.

    PubMed 17046842
  • Martellucci J, Bergamini C, Bruscino A, Prosperi P, Tonelli P, Todaro A, Valeri A. Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for extraperitoneal rectal cancer: long-term results. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2014 Dec;29(12):1493-9. doi: 10.1007/s00384-014-2017-5. Epub 2014 Sep 25.

    PubMed 25248320
  • Havenga K, Grossmann I, DeRuiter M, Wiggers T. Definition of total mesorectal excision, including the perineal phase: technical considerations. Dig Dis. 2007;25(1):44-50. doi: 10.1159/000099169.

    PubMed 17384507
  • Pai A, Marecik SJ, Park JJ, Melich G, Sulo S, Prasad LM. Oncologic and Clinicopathologic Outcomes of Robot-Assisted Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer. Dis Colon Rectum. 2015 Jul;58(7):659-67. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000385.

    PubMed 26200680
  • Heald RJ, Husband EM, Ryall RD. The mesorectum in rectal cancer surgery--the clue to pelvic recurrence? Br J Surg. 1982 Oct;69(10):613-6. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800691019.

    PubMed 6751457
  • Lacy AM, Tasende MM, Delgado S, Fernandez-Hevia M, Jimenez M, De Lacy B, Castells A, Bravo R, Wexner SD, Heald RJ. Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: Outcomes after 140 Patients. J Am Coll Surg. 2015 Aug;221(2):415-23. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2015.03.046. Epub 2015 Mar 30.

    PubMed 26206640
  • de Lacy AM, Rattner DW, Adelsdorfer C, Tasende MM, Fernandez M, Delgado S, Sylla P, Martinez-Palli G. Transanal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) rectal resection: "down-to-up" total mesorectal excision (TME)--short-term outcomes in the first 20 cases. Surg Endosc. 2013 Sep;27(9):3165-72. doi: 10.1007/s00464-013-2872-0. Epub 2013 Mar 22.

    PubMed 23519489
  • Velthuis S, Nieuwenhuis DH, Ruijter TE, Cuesta MA, Bonjer HJ, Sietses C. Transanal versus traditional laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal carcinoma. Surg Endosc. 2014 Dec;28(12):3494-9. doi: 10.1007/s00464-014-3636-1. Epub 2014 Jun 28.

    PubMed 24972923
  • van der Pas MH, Haglind E, Cuesta MA, Furst A, Lacy AM, Hop WC, Bonjer HJ; COlorectal cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection II (COLOR II) Study Group. Laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer (COLOR II): short-term outcomes of a randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013 Mar;14(3):210-8. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70016-0. Epub 2013 Feb 6.

    PubMed 23395398
  • Lino-Silva LS, Garcia-Gomez MA, Aguilar-Romero JM, Dominguez-Rodriguez JA, Salcedo-Hernandez RA, Loaeza-Belmont R, Ruiz-Garcia EB, Herrera-Gomez A. Mesorectal pathologic assessment in two grades predicts accurately recurrence, positive circumferential margin, and correlates with survival. J Surg Oncol. 2015 Dec;112(8):900-6. doi: 10.1002/jso.24076. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

    PubMed 26487289

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Rectal Cancer and Surgery, run by San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital at 1 site in Italy.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2021. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Italy. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Completeness of mesorectal fascia and specimen quality (specimen integrity after rectal resection) (time frame: 4 years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04949672, which also lists 11 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2021.

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