Surveillance Intervals After Piecemeal Resection of Non-pedunculated Colorectal Lesions ≥20mm (NCT06791616) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Surveillance Intervals After Piecemeal Resection of Non-pedunculated Colorectal Lesions ≥20mm
746 participantsStarted 2025-03-01
Plain-language summary
Intensive endoscopic surveillance following piecemeal resection of non-pedunculated colorectal lesions (NPCL) ≥20 mm is the current standard of care, given the high recurrence rate of these lesions (15-30%). However, most recurrences are detected at 12 months, are small and unifocal, and can be easily resected endoscopically. Furthermore, thermal margin ablation has demonstrated a reduction in recurrence rates to 5-6%, highlighting the need to optimize current surveillance protocols, which are costly, invasive, and impose a significant clinical burden.
The multicenter SCARFACE clinical trial aims to evaluate whether a reduced surveillance protocol (at 12 and 48 months) is non-inferior to the standard protocol (at 6, 12, and 48 months) in terms of recurrence rates, using a predefined non-inferiority margin. This non-inferiority design aims to determine if the reduced protocol maintains acceptable efficacy while reducing clinical workload and minimizing risks and discomfort associated with intensive follow-up.
Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the two surveillance protocols, with an estimated sample size of 746 lesions. The primary objective is to compare the cumulative incidence of recurrence at 12 months. Secondary objectives include characterizing recurrences, assessing complications associated with endoscopic treatments and evaluating the incidence of advanced colorectal lesions. The findings of this study are expected to directly impact clinical guidelines and routine practice, optimizing resource utilization and improving patient quality of life.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 85 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Patients with a single non-pedunculated colorectal lesion (NPCL) ≥20 mm that has been resected piecemeal and treated with thermal ablation (using snare tip or argon plasma) at the margins as prophylaxis against recurrence, and who are awaiting the initiation of specific endoscopic follow-up.
* Complete colonoscopy with adequate or excellent bowel preparation performed within the last 6 months prior to the resection of the index lesion.
* Signed informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Resection performed using a cold snare technique due to the high risk of recurrence.
* Histology of the lesion showing malignancy: colorectal cancer with submucosal invasion, regardless of invasion depth in microns.
* Absence of information regarding the grade of dysplasia of the index lesion.
* Personal history of colorectal cancer.
* Incomplete endoscopic resection of the index lesion or any other polyps present in the patient.
* When the endoscopist performing the index colonoscopy expresses doubts about whether the resection was complete.
* Index lesion with prior attempted resection.
* Hereditary cancer syndromes (e.g., adenomatous or serrated polyposis syndromes, Lynch syndrome, etc.).
* Inflammatory bowel disease.
* Severe comorbidities with reduced life expectancy.
* Pregnancy.
* Ongoing cytotoxic treatment or radiotherapy for a malignant disease.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Cumulative incidence of recurrence/residual tissue