Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
The CARTS study is a multicenter feasibility study, investigating the role of rectum saving surgery for distal rectal cancer.Methods/design
Patients with a clinical T1-3 N0 M0 rectal adenocarcinoma below 10 cm from the anal verge will receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (25 fractions of 2 Gy with concurrent capecitabine). Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) will be performed 8 - 10 weeks after the end of the preoperative treatment depending on the clinical response.Primary objective is to determine the number of patients with a (near) complete pathological response after chemoradiation therapy and TEM. Secondary objectives are the local recurrence rate and quality of life after this combined therapeutic modality. A three-step analysis will be performed after 20, 33 and 55 patients to ensure the feasibility of this treatment protocol.Discussion
The CARTS-study is one of the first prospective multicentre trials to investigate the role of a rectum saving treatment modality using chemoradiation therapy and local excision. The CARTS study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01273051).
SUBMITTER: Bokkerink GM
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3295682 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Bökkerink Guus M J GM de Graaf Eelco J R EJ Punt Cornelis J A CJ Nagtegaal Iris D ID Rütten Heidi H Nuyttens Joost J M E JJ van Meerten Esther E Doornebosch Pascal G PG Tanis Pieter J PJ Derksen Eric J EJ Dwarkasing Roy S RS Marijnen Corrie A M CA Cats Annemieke A Tollenaar Rob A E M RA de Hingh Ignace H J T IH Rutten Harm J T HJ van der Schelling George P GP Ten Tije Albert J AJ Leijtens Jeroen W A JW Lammering Guido G Beets Geerard L GL Aufenacker Theo J TJ Pronk Apollo A Manusama Eric R ER Hoff Christiaan C Bremers Andreas J A AJ Verhoef Cornelelis C de Wilt Johannes H W JH
BMC surgery 20111215
<h4>Background</h4>The CARTS study is a multicenter feasibility study, investigating the role of rectum saving surgery for distal rectal cancer.<h4>Methods/design</h4>Patients with a clinical T1-3 N0 M0 rectal adenocarcinoma below 10 cm from the anal verge will receive neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (25 fractions of 2 Gy with concurrent capecitabine). Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) will be performed 8 - 10 weeks after the end of the preoperative treatment depending on the clinical r ...[more]