NCT05732623

Brief Summary

An increase in early-onset colorectal cancers (eoCRC), defined as a CRC before 50 years, is confirmed globally. CRC pathogenesis has been associated with several risk factors (family history, germline pathogenic variants, obesity, alcohol, physical activity, red meat, and a Western diet). Design: an international, multicenter, retrospective case-control study of prospectively enrolled patients; low-risk intervention study as it will perform a fecal occult blood test Endpoint: predictive power of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) developed for eoCRC. Cases: Patients with a recent diagnosis of eoCRC (within 2 years from enrollment). Controls: matched by age (matching range ± 5 years) and sex. Healthy volunteers will be mainly enrolled among workers within the participating hospital center. The enrolled healthy volunteers will perform a fecal occult blood test. Variables of interest: age, sex, ethnicity, BMI at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old, country, tobacco smoking at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old, sitting time, TV-viewing time, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), waist circumference (cm), home blood pressure levels (mmHg), fasting blood glucose (mg/dl), regular consumption of aspirin/NSAID, calcium and folate supplements, oral contraceptive agents, post-menopausal hormones and years of consumptions, if the filled questionnaire reflects diet for the last 5-10 years before. Cases only: date of eoCRC diagnosis, symptoms at diagnosis, eoCRC localization, eoCRC stage, histological diagnosis, type of surgery, and date (if performed), chemotherapy and radiotherapy (if performed), vital status and duration of follow-up, family history of CRC and other cancers (uterus, ovary, stomach, small intestine, urinary tract/bladder/kidney, bile ducts, brain, pancreas, skin tumors), type of germline pathogenetic variant (if performed). Before the case-control study, three non-consecutive 24-hour Dietary Recalls (24hDRs) will validate the SQFFQ. The SQFFQ will be administered to the validation study group during three non-consecutive calls, including one non-weekday (30-minute 24-h-recall computer-aided personal interview). Primary Objective To measure the relative risk of specific dietary and lifestyle factors (smoking habit, alcohol intake, physical activity) for early-onset colorectal cancer in countries where eoCRC incidence is increasing versus stable/decreasing

Trial Health

83
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
2,300

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
105mo left

Started Dec 2022

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
6 countries

8 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress28%
Dec 2022Jan 2035

Study Start

First participant enrolled

December 5, 2022

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 27, 2023

Completed
21 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

February 17, 2023

Completed
6.9 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

January 1, 2030

Expected
5 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

January 1, 2035

Last Updated

April 24, 2026

Status Verified

April 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

7.1 years

First QC Date

January 27, 2023

Last Update Submit

April 21, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Early onsetYoung onsetYoung adultColon cancerRectal cancerCancer geneticsCancer risk factorsDiet

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Diet and the risk of eoCRC

    To quantify the relative risk of early-onset colorectal cancer for specific dietary and lifestyle risk factors (including the risk for eoCRC for * tobacco smoking at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old * alcohol consumption * physical activity * sex * ethnicity * BMI at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old * country of origin * Daily sitting time * Daily TV-viewing time * Daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) * waist circumference (cm) * home blood pressure levels (mmHg) * Fasting blood glucose (mg/dl) * Regular consumption of aspirin/NSAID * Regular consumption of calcium and folate supplements * Regular use of oral contraceptive agents and years of consumptions * Regular use of post-menopausal hormones and years of consumptions Results will be stratified by countries where the incidence of eoCRC is increasing versus stable/decreasing

    10 years

Study Arms (2)

Early onset colorectal cancer

Patients with colorectal cancer diagnosed before the age of 50 years

Behavioral: Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ)

Control

Individuals meeting all the following: * aged \<50 years * no history of colorectal cancer * at least one negative screening test (at least a fecal occult blood test with high sensitivity)

Behavioral: Semi Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQFFQ)

Interventions

The SQFFQ quantifies the frequency of consumption of each food and drink and the following list of variables: * date of birth * sex * ethnicity * weight (kg) * height (m) * BMI (kg/m2) at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old * country where they live permanently * tobacco smoking at the time of eoCRC diagnosis and at 18 years old * sitting time * TV-viewing time * moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) * waist circumference (cm) * home blood pressure levels (mmHg) * fasting blood glucose (mg/dl) * regular consumption of aspirin/NSAID and years of consumptions * calcium and folate supplements and years of consumptions * oral contraceptive agents and years of consumptions * post-menopausal hormones and years of consumptions

ControlEarly onset colorectal cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 49 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64)
Sampling MethodProbability Sample
Study Population

at least 300 patients in total (100 at IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute) with a recent diagnosis of eoCRC (diagnosis made within 2 years prior to enrollment), aged 18-49 years, will be prospectively recruited at least 600 Healthy controls (HCs) totally (200 at IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute), matched by age (matching range ± 5 years) and sex with eoCRCs will be prospectively enrolled. Healthy volunteers will be mainly enrolled among workers within the participating hospital center, followed regularly by preventive medicine. This enrollment will be carried out by e-mail invitation disseminated through the hospital's official mailing list

You may qualify if:

  • All sexes eligible
  • (for Cases) eoCRC diagnosed between 18 and 49 years and confirmed by histology (biopsy or surgical specimen in case of surgery)
  • (for Controls) negative past and present history of cancer; negative fecal occult blood test (FOBT), or negative colonoscopy.

You may not qualify if:

  • CRC diagnosed at ≥ 50 years
  • Diseases that can modify the dietary regimen (celiac disease, diabetes)
  • Diseases that are known to predispose to eoCRC (personal past or recent history of inflammatory bowel disease, past history of pelvic irradiation)
  • Unable to give written consents and to fill in the electronic questionnaire

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (8)

Department of Medicine-Gastroenterology, Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of Colorado Hospital

Denver, Colorado, 80045, United States

RECRUITING

Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine University of Chicago Medicine

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

RECRUITING

Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital

Helsinki, Finland

RECRUITING

Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Hospital of the University of Munich (LMU)

Munich, Germany

RECRUITING

Gabriela Moslein

Wuppertal, Germany

RECRUITING

Prof Giulia Martina Cavestro, MD PhD

Milan, Lombardy, 20132, Italy

RECRUITING

Division of Cancer Medicine, Oslo University Hospital (OUS), Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics Norwegian Radium Hospital

Oslo, Norway

RECRUITING

Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona

Barcelona, Spain

RECRUITING

Related Publications (32)

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  • Liu PH, Wu K, Ng K, Zauber AG, Nguyen LH, Song M, He X, Fuchs CS, Ogino S, Willett WC, Chan AT, Giovannucci EL, Cao Y. Association of Obesity With Risk of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Among Women. JAMA Oncol. 2019 Jan 1;5(1):37-44. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.4280.

  • Nguyen LH, Liu PH, Zheng X, Keum N, Zong X, Li X, Wu K, Fuchs CS, Ogino S, Ng K, Willett WC, Chan AT, Giovannucci EL, Cao Y. Sedentary Behaviors, TV Viewing Time, and Risk of Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2018 Nov;2(4):pky073. doi: 10.1093/jncics/pky073. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

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  • Gausman V, Dornblaser D, Anand S, Hayes RB, O'Connell K, Du M, Liang PS. Risk Factors Associated With Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Nov;18(12):2752-2759.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2019.10.009. Epub 2019 Oct 14.

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  • Cavestro GM, Mannucci A, Balaguer F, Hampel H, Kupfer SS, Repici A, Sartore-Bianchi A, Seppala TT, Valentini V, Boland CR, Brand RE, Buffart TE, Burke CA, Caccialanza R, Cannizzaro R, Cascinu S, Cercek A, Crosbie EJ, Danese S, Dekker E, Daca-Alvarez M, Deni F, Dominguez-Valentin M, Eng C, Goel A, Guillem JG, Houwen BBSL, Kahi C, Kalady MF, Kastrinos F, Kuhn F, Laghi L, Latchford A, Liska D, Lynch P, Malesci A, Mauri G, Meldolesi E, Moller P, Monahan KJ, Moslein G, Murphy CC, Nass K, Ng K, Oliani C, Papaleo E, Patel SG, Puzzono M, Remo A, Ricciardiello L, Ripamonti CI, Siena S, Singh SK, Stadler ZK, Stanich PP, Syngal S, Turi S, Urso ED, Valle L, Vanni VS, Vilar E, Vitellaro M, You YN, Yurgelun MB, Zuppardo RA, Stoffel EM; Associazione Italiana Familiarita Ereditarieta Tumori; Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancer; European Hereditary Tumour Group, and the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumours. Delphi Initiative for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer (DIRECt) International Management Guidelines. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2023 Mar;21(3):581-603.e33. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2022.12.006. Epub 2022 Dec 20.

Related Links

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Colorectal NeoplasmsFeeding BehaviorRisk Reduction BehaviorColonic NeoplasmsRectal Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Intestinal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal NeoplasmsDigestive System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsDigestive System DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesColonic DiseasesIntestinal DiseasesRectal DiseasesBehavior, AnimalBehavior

Study Officials

  • Giulia Martina Cavestro, MD PhD

    IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Giulia Martina Cavestro, MD PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
CASE CONTROL
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Target Duration
10 Years
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Prof Cavestro Giulia Martina

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 27, 2023

First Posted

February 17, 2023

Study Start

December 5, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2035

Last Updated

April 24, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Individual participant data may be made available upon reasonable request

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
Time Frame
5-10 days after receiving and approving a request
Access Criteria
Individual participant data may be made available upon reasonable request

Locations