NCT06076811

Brief Summary

Approximately two-thirds of all colorectal cancer patients undergo surgery with the aim of curing them. However, despite the surgery, 20-25% of them experience relapse. It is possible to reduce the risk of relapse with chemotherapy, but as chemotherapy is associated with significant side effects, it is only given to patients at high risk of relapse. Currently, the risk is assessed based on an examination of the removed tumor tissue. In a previous research project, blood samples were taken after patients' surgery and examined for the presence of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). When cancer cells in solid tumors die, they release DNA, which can be detected in the blood. DNA in the blood has a half-life of less than 2 hours, so if ctDNA is found in a blood sample taken, e.g., 14 days after surgery, the patient most likely still has cancer cells in their body. The results show that if a patient has ctDNA in their blood after surgery, the risk of relapse is high. The presence of ctDNA in the blood has the potential to be a better indicator of the risk of future relapse than the tumor examination used today. Therefore, ctDNA analysis has the potential to become a marker that will be used in the future clinical setting for monitoring colorectal cancer. The overall objective of this study is to confirm that ctDNA found in a blood sample after intended curative treatment for CRC is a marker of residual disease and risk of recurrence and is applicable in clinical practice.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
1,600

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for all trials

Timeline
51mo left

Started Aug 2023

Longer than P75 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

10 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 Progress40%
Aug 2023Jul 2030

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2023

Completed
2 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

October 4, 2023

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

October 11, 2023

Completed
4.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

July 30, 2028

Expected
2 years until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

July 30, 2030

Last Updated

February 4, 2026

Status Verified

February 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

5 years

First QC Date

October 4, 2023

Last Update Submit

February 3, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

Circulating tumor DNASurveillanceRisk stratificationRecurrence detection

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • The prognostic value of ctDNA status

    Especially, the association between 3-year disease-free survival and ctDNA status after surgery and after adjuvant chemotherapy

    3 years after surgery

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • Ranking of commercial ctDNA diagnostics

    3 years after surgery

  • Change in ctDNA levels after adjuvant chemotherapy

    3 years after surgery

  • Lead time between molecular and clinical recurrence

    3 years after surgery

  • Correlation between ctDNA analysis and findings on CT scans

    3 years after surgery

  • Prognostic power of ctDNA at the time point of an indeterminate CT scan

    3 years after surgery

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

DANISH.MRD part I - Surgery Patients with colorectal cancer clinical stage I-III scheduled for curative-intent resectional surgery. DANISH.MRD part I - Surveillance Patients participating in DANISH.MRD part 1, and pathological stage III colorectal cancer, and candidates for adjuvant chemotherapy.

You may qualify if:

  • Colon or rectal cancer, clinical tumor stage I-III.
  • Patient able to understand and sign written informed consent.
  • Scheduled for curative-intent resectional surgery (including "compromised" curative resections).

You may not qualify if:

  • Hereditary colorectal cancer linked to familial colonic polyposis or Lynch syndrome.
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis).
  • Verified distant metastases.
  • Malignant colorectal polyps diagnosed after polypectomy.
  • Patients who are unlikely to comply with the protocol (e.g., uncooperative attitude, inability to return for subsequent visits) and/or otherwise considered by the Investigator to be unlikely to complete the study.
  • DANISH.MRD part II - Surveillance
  • Participation in DANISH.MRD part I - Surgery.
  • Colorectal cancer, UICC stage III.
  • Has received curative-intent resection and is a candidate for adjuvant chemotherapy (3- or 6-months regime).
  • Not treated with adjuvant chemotherapy
  • Treated with neoadjuvant chemo-radiation therapy.
  • Synchronous colorectal and non-colorectal cancer diagnosed per operative (except skin cancer other than melanoma).
  • Other cancers (excluding colorectal cancer or skin cancer other than melanoma) within 3 years from eligibility screening.
  • Patients who are unlikely to comply with the protocol (e.g., uncooperative attitude, inability to return for subsequent visits) and/or otherwise considered by the Investigator to be unlikely to complete the study.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (10)

Bispebjerg Hospital

Copenhagen, Capital Region of Denmark, 2400, Denmark

RECRUITING

Herlev Hospital

Herlev, Capital Region of Denmark, 2730, Denmark

NOT YET RECRUITING

Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus, Central Jutland, 8000, Denmark

RECRUITING

Gødstrup Hospital

Herning, Central Jutland, 7400, Denmark

RECRUITING

Regional Hospital Horsens

Horsens, Central Jutland, 8700, Denmark

RECRUITING

Regional Hospital Randers

Randers, Central Jutland, 8930, Denmark

RECRUITING

Regional Hospital Viborg

Viborg, Central Jutland, 8800, Denmark

RECRUITING

Aalborg University Hospital

Aalborg, North Denmark, 9000, Denmark

RECRUITING

Odense University Hospital

Odense, The Region of Southern Denmark, 5000, Denmark

RECRUITING

Vejle Hospital

Vejle, 7100, Denmark

RECRUITING

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Tumor tissue Normal tissue Whole blood (processed to plasma, buffycoat and serum) Dried blood spots.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Colorectal Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Intestinal NeoplasmsGastrointestinal NeoplasmsDigestive System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsDigestive System DiseasesGastrointestinal DiseasesColonic DiseasesIntestinal DiseasesRectal Diseases

Study Officials

  • Claus L Andersen, PhD

    Aarhus University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Lene H Iversen, MD, DMSc

    Aarhus University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
  • Kåre A Gotschalck, MD, PhD

    Regionshospitalet Horsens

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Claus L Andersen, PhD

CONTACT

Christina Demuth, PhD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

October 4, 2023

First Posted

October 11, 2023

Study Start

August 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 30, 2030

Last Updated

February 4, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations