Feasibility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Rectal Cancer — SentiRect  

Rectal Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Feasibility of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Rectal Cancer

Status Terminated

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will assess whether the Sienna+/Sentimag system, which involves a magnetic tracer, is effective in identifying the sentinel lymph node in rectal cancer and whether it is then feasible to remove this lymph node during surgery to locally excise early rectal cancer.

Clinical Trial Description

One issue in managing rectal cancer is identifying which patients will benefit from less radical surgery, which is much safer and better tolerated. However it does not remove lymph nodes where cancer cells may have spread. If lymph nodes containing cancer are left behind, the cancer may recur. So this surgery is only suitable in early rectal cancers not involving lymph nodes. Unfortunately, current investigations do not always accurately identify involved lymph nodes.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a technique to surgically remove the first lymph node where cancer cells spread. If this lymph node contains cancer, radical surgery is needed to reduce the risk of recurrence. However if it is clear, less radical surgery should be sufficient. This is standard practice for breast cancer and avoids unnecessary major surgery in many patients.

The investigators aim to assess whether SLNB is useful in rectal cancer. The investigators will determine whether the Sienna+/Sentimag system effectively identifies the sentinel lymph node, and whether the node can then be removed surgically.

The investigators will recruit patients in Oxford hospitals about to undergo surgery for rectal cancer. Patients will receive an injection of magnetic tracer during endoscopy prior to surgery. Some patients will have an extra MRI scan. During or after surgery, depending on the type of operation planned, a magnetic probe will be used to locate the sentinel lymph node in the tissue around the rectum. The removed specimen will be examined by a pathologist. Funding to undertake this study has been granted by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Endomagnetics, the manufacturer, will supply the magnetic tracer and probe for use in this study.

If successful, the investigators will plan a larger clinical trial. This could have a major impact on improving outcomes for patients by allowing less radical surgery to be used where it is most appropriate. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Rectal Cancer
• Rectal Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT02445456
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Status: Terminated
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: December 2016
• Completion date: December 2020