Multicenter Phase II Study of Transanal TME (taTME)



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Colorectal Cancer, Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - Any
Updated:8/25/2018
Start Date:April 21, 2017
End Date:June 1, 2022
Contact:Patricia Sylla, MD
Email:ustametrial@mountsinai.org
Phone:212-241-7943

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Multicenter Phase II Study of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME) With Laparoscopic Assistance for Rectal Cancer

Radical rectal cancer resection, namely total mesorectal excision (TME), is the cornerstone
of the treatment of resectable rectal cancer. In combination with chemotherapy and radiation
treatment (CRT), complete TME with negative resection margins is associated with sustained
local and systemic control even in locally advanced disease. Over the last 2 decades,
laparoscopic and robotic techniques have been increasingly adopted due to reduced surgical
trauma and faster patient recovery. Yet, both approaches are associated with equivalent
postoperative morbidity and disturbances in sexual, urinary and defecatory function relative
to open TME. Furthermore, laparoscopic and robotic TME remain associated with substantial
conversion rates and variable rates of TME completeness as a result of the procedural
difficulties reaching the low rectum from the abdominal approach. Transanal TME (taTME) with
laparoscopic assistance was developed to facilitate completion of TME using a primary
transanal endoscopic approach. Transanal TME uses a "bottom-up approach" to overcome the
technical difficulties of low pelvic dissection using an abdominal approach. Published
results from single-center taTME series and an international registry suggest the short-term
procedural and oncologic safety of this approach in resectable rectal cancer. No multicenter
phase II study has yet been conducted to validate the procedural safety, functional outcomes
or long-term oncologic outcomes of this approach.

Study Design: This is a 5-year phase II multicenter single-arm study to evaluate the safety
and efficacy of low anterior resection (LAR) with taTME using laparoscopic or robotic
assistance in 100 eligible subjects with resectable rectal cancer.

Hypothesis: taTME is non-inferior to standard LAR with respect to the quality of the TME
achieved.

The management of rectal cancer is multidisciplinary and outcomes are dependent on accurate
preoperative staging, performance of a curative resection, and the selective use of
neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy to improve long-term oncologic outcomes. Despite the
increasing use of laparoscopic and robotic approaches, radical rectal cancer resection is
associated with relatively high rates of conversion to open surgery, variable rates of TME
specimen completeness, and morbidity rates that are equivalent to that of open TME with
respect to infectious and wound-related complications, as well as defecatory, sexual and
urinary dysfunction,.

Transanal TME (taTME) with laparoscopic assistance was developed in an effort to facilitate
completion of TME using a primarily transanal endoscopic approach. Based on the preliminary
results from several published single-center case series and the first international taTME
registry, in carefully selected patients with resectable rectal cancer, taTME with
laparoscopic assistance is associated with perioperative outcomes and short-term oncologic
outcomes that are equivalent to tht of standard TME.

This study is the first phase II multicenter trial of taTME conducted in the United States to
evaluate the efficacy and safety of taTME with laparoscopic or robotic assistance relative to
standard LAR. A total of 100 subjects with resectable rectal cancer located up to 10 cm from
the anal verge will be enrolled across 10 US study sites. It is anticipated that this larger,
phase II multicenter study will validate the safety and efficacy of taTME with respect to
perioperative outcomes, short and long-term oncologic outcomes and functional results.

Study procedure:

Study procedures will consist in 1-team (sequential) or 2-team (combined) LAR with transanal
TME using laparoscopic or robotic abdominal assistance. Laparoscopic or robotic abdominal
access will be obtained followed by inferior mesenteric vessels transection, mobilization or
the proximal colon and splenic flexure takedown if indicated. Transanal TME is performed
either at the same time or following the above steps. Intersphincteric resection (ISR) may be
included for very low tumors. Following pursestring closure of the rectum below the tumor,
transanal endoscopic TME dissection will proceed circumferentially until the peritoneal
cavity is entered anteriorly. Following complete mobilization of the rectosigmoid, the
specimen is extracted transanally or transabdominally followed by colorectal or coloanal
anastomosis, with or without a diverting loop ileostomy. Operative details will be recorded
in case report forms (CRF's).

TME pathology assessment:

Resected specimens will be processed and analyzed by the participating institution's
Pathology Department according to standard TME protocol. De-identified photographs of all
fresh TME specimens will be independently reviewed by a Pathology Review Committee blinded to
the source of the specimen.

Postoperative care and follow-up:

Subjects will be managed according to standard postoperative protocols. Postoperative visits
and oncology follow-up visits will occur as per standard practice and oncologic outcomes. All
adverse events occurring during the study period will be graded using the Clavien-Dindo
system. Postoperative functional questionnaires will be obtained 6-8 months and 12-14 months
postoperatively in non-diverted subjects. In diverted subjects, functional questionnaires
will be collected 3-4 months and 9-10 months following ileostomy closure (or 12-18 months
following the study procedure).

Inclusion Criteria:

- New diagnosis of histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the rectum

- Age ≥18

- Clinical stage cT1 (high-risk), T2, or T3, cN0, N1, N2 on staging pelvic MRI

- Negative predicted CRM on staging pelvic MRI

- No evidence of metastasis on CT scans of the chest, abdomen and pelvis

- Rectal cancer located within 10 cm from the anal verge based on proctoscopy and
digital rectal examination (DRE)

- Complete preoperative colonoscopy demonstrating no synchronous colon cancer

- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 (Karnofsky ≥ 60%)

- Eligible to undergo laparoscopic or robotic LAR with or without a temporary diverting
stoma, based on multidisciplinary tumor board consensus

- Able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

- cT4 on staging pelvic MRI

- >12 weeks delay between completion of neoadjuvant CRT and planned study procedure

- Severely symptomatic rectal tumors

- Tumors invading into the internal anal sphincter muscle based on DRE and pelvic MRI

- Fecal incontinence at baseline

- Prior history of rectal resection

- Prior history of colorectal cancer

- History of inflammatory bowel disease

- Uncontrolled concurrent illness

- Pregnancy

- Subjects who cannot read or understand English
We found this trial at
11
sites
New York, New York 10003
Principal Investigator: Patricia Sylla, MD
Phone: 212-241-2065
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8700 Beverly Blvd # 8211
Los Angeles, California 90048
(1-800-233-2771)
Principal Investigator: Karen Zaghiyan, MD
Cedars Sinai Med Ctr Cedars-Sinai is known for providing the highest quality patient care. Our...
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4805 Northeast Glisan Street
Portland, Oregon 97213
(503) 215-1111
Principal Investigator: Mark Whiteford, MD
Providence Portland Medical Center We strive to give those we serve exceptional, compassionate health care...
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2950 Cleveland Clinic Blvd.
Weston, Florida 33331
866.293.7866
Principal Investigator: Dana Sands, MD
Cleveland Clinic Florida Cleveland Clinic Florida, located in Weston, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens...
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41 Mall Road
Burlington, Massachusetts 1805
781-744-5100
Principal Investigator: Peter Marcello, MD
Lahey Clinic When Frank Lahey, MD, founded a group practice in 1923, his vision was...
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Los Angeles, California 90027
Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Mclemore, MD
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1428 Madison Ave
New York, New York 10029
(212) 241-6500
Principal Investigator: Patricia Sylla, MD
Phone: 212-241-2065
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is...
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Orange, California 92868
Principal Investigator: Alessio Pigazzi, MD, PhD
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601 E Rollins St
Orlando, Florida 32803
(407) 303-5600
Principal Investigator: Matthew Albert, MD
Florida Hospital Florida Hospital is one of the country
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Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
Principal Investigator: Justin Maykel, MD
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100 East Lancaster Avenue
Wynnewood, Pennsylvania 19096
Principal Investigator: John Marks, MD
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