Thornton Heath

Researchers are evaluating whether skipping additional axillary treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer who had cancer in their lymph nodes before chemotherapy but show no remaining cancer in those nodes after treatment is as effective as the standard approach. This study focuses on disease-free survival and reducing the risk of lymphoedema five years after treatment. It is a randomized, open, multicenter trial including patients with specific breast cancer stages and confirmed nodal metastases. Participants will all receive standard therapies including HER2-targeted treatment, endocrine therapy, and radiotherapy to the breast or chest wall if needed. They will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will not get further axillary treatment such as lymph node removal or radiotherapy, while the other group will receive these axillary treatments according to local guidelines. Follow-up visits will occur annually for at least five years. During the study, participants will undergo assessments to monitor disease-free survival and self-reported lymphoedema using specific questionnaires. Additional evaluations include arm function, quality of life, recurrence rates, survival, and cost-effectiveness analyses. The total study duration is planned for 120 months, including setup, recruitment, follow-up, analysis, and reporting.

Researchers are evaluating whether using MRI imaging for staging sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma can change treatment plans by detecting more high-risk tumors compared to standard CT imaging. This randomized phase II multicenter trial aims to improve radical treatment decisions and provide better prognostic information to patients. The study involves patients eligible for curative treatment whose MRI can be reviewed before surgery without a prior treatment decision. Participants are assigned randomly to one of three groups standard preoperative CT imaging with multidisciplinary team discussion, standard CT plus an additional preoperative MRI scan with team discussion, or observation only. The MRI provides supplementary diagnostic information that may alter treatment strategies based on local protocols. During the study, patients are followed up at 1 and 3 years with quality of life questionnaires. Researchers assess differences in cancer staging between CT and MRI, treatment changes, recurrence rates, disease-free survival, surgery quality, pathology outcomes, morbidity and mortality, and permanent stoma rates. The total follow-up extends up to 5 years after treatment, with outcomes measured at multiple time points to understand the impact of MRI staging on patient care.

This research aims to improve the accuracy of MRI scans in detecting early-stage rectal cancer and significant rectal polyps. Many patients with early rectal cancer currently undergo major surgery or unnecessary treatments due to inaccurate staging. The study evaluates a new MRI reading method called PRESERVE, which has been shown to identify early rectal cancers more accurately and may allow more patients to have less invasive local excision surgery that preserves the rectum and quality of life. The study compares two phases a control phase where patients receive standard care, and an intervention phase following training of radiologists in the PRESERVE MRI staging method. During the intervention phase, MRI scans are recommended for rectal polyps 20mm or larger or with suspicious features before removal, alongside radiologist training. Each hospital transitions from control to intervention at a randomized time, with no crossover of patients between phases. Participants will be monitored through clinical investigations before, during, and after treatment as per standard care. Researchers will assess the accuracy of tumor staging on MRI, the number of patients identified for rectal preservation surgery, and quality of life outcomes over up to 5 years. Additional measures include scan quality, tumor characteristics, treatment costs, and histopathological biomarkers. The primary outcome is the impact of radiologist training on staging accuracy measured after one year.

Researchers are evaluating the impact of two different default dialysate sodium concentrations on major cardiovascular events and death in adults receiving maintenance haemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease. This pragmatic, cluster-randomised, open-label Phase 4 study compares sodium levels of 137 mmoll and 140 mmoll in real-world dialysis settings across multiple sites globally. Dialysis sites will be randomly assigned to use either a default dialysate sodium concentration of 137 mmoll or 140 mmoll for at least 90% of dialysis sessions. Other aspects of patient care will follow standard local practices. Sites must consent to participate, and individual patients will provide waiver or opt-out consent. The study expects to enroll sites over 5 to 7 years, with each participant followed for approximately 2 to 5 years until the study endpoints are reached. Participants will receive dialysis at their assigned sites with the designated sodium concentration. Researchers will monitor the time to first occurrence of major cardiovascular events or death as the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes include other cardiovascular events and individual components of the composite outcomes. Data collection and patient monitoring will continue throughout the study period, estimated to last around five years per participant.

Researchers are studying patients with newly diagnosed stage I, II, and III colorectal cancer CRC to understand how circulating tumor DNA ctDNA in the blood can predict disease relapse. The study evaluates whether using ctDNA to guide adjuvant chemotherapy decisions after surgery is as effective as standard chemotherapy, aiming to reduce unnecessary treatments and side effects. This multi-center, prospective research includes both observational and randomized components to better manage early-stage CRC. The study has two parts Part B focuses on collecting tumor tissue, serial blood samples, and clinical data to detect minimal residual disease MRD using ctDNA after curative surgery. Part C is a randomized trial comparing ctDNA-guided adjuvant chemotherapy versus standard care in patients with high-risk stage II or III CRC. Patients are randomized post-surgery to either standard chemotherapy or a ctDNA-guided approach where those testing negative for ctDNA may receive less chemotherapy. Participants will undergo regular blood sampling and clinical assessments to monitor ctDNA levels and disease status. Researchers will measure outcomes such as 3-year disease-free survival and the relationship between ctDNA detection and treatment response over several years. The study includes follow-up periods of 4 to 8 years to evaluate long-term outcomes and safety. Participants need to consent, adhere to follow-up schedules, and be suitable for chemotherapy if randomized to Part C.