Overview

Randomized head-to-head comparison trial among patients who have undergone incomplete endoscopic resection of early colon cancer to evaluate the benefits, harms and burdens, as well as the ecological footprint and cost-effectiveness of endoscopic full thickness resection (eFTR), a minimally invasive endoscopic treatment with a colonoscope, as compared to standard-of-care surgery.

Co-primary endpoints are

• Rate of severe adverse events classified as grade III to V according to the Clavien Dindo classification within 30-days after study treatment
• CRC recurrence or sign of lymph nodes or distant metastases at 3 years after randomization comparing the two treatment groups (eFTR versus surgery).

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women, age 40 years or older with endoscopic removal (snare or forceps polypectomy; endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) with R1 (resection margin <0.1mm23,40) or Rx resection margins of colon cancer (location proximal to the rectum (12 cm or more from the anal verge))
• No contraindication for colon surgery as deemed by the multidisciplinary tumor board (MTB) at the participating centre
• Absence of the following histopathological tumor features: poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, tumor budding grade B2-B3.
• No sign of disease beyond stage T1N0M0 on standard-of-care computed tomography imaging of the thorax, abdomen and pelvis41 and clinical evaluation
• Identifiable resection site with colonoscopy, either by visualizing a previously administered tattoo or by identification of a scar in the correct colon segment
• No other tumors or polyps larger than 10 mm in diameter in the colorectum at time of randomization
• Complete colonoscopy with adequate quality of bowel preparation (Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score ≤2 in all colonic segments) and photo or video documentation of the appendiceal orifice or ileocecal valve.
• No colonic strictures or severe diverticulosis.
• No prior CRC
• No other malignant disease which is not deemed cured
• No confirmed or suspected genetic cancer syndrome (10 or more adenomas/serrated lesions, adenomatous or serrated polyposis syndrome; Lynch or Lynch-like syndrome)
• No inflammatory bowel disease
• Written informed consent provided by before enrolment

Exclusion Criteria:

• all who do not fulfill inclusion criteria