Important clinical trials now recruiting bowel cancer patients across the UK
Tuesday 9 May 2023
Following on from the announcement earlier this year of the positive results of a clinical trial for bowel cancer treatment, researchers are now recruiting people to take part in the next phase of the research.
The FOxTROT 1 clinical trial, led by the Universities of Birmingham and Leeds and funded by Cancer Research UK, hit the headlines when it found that chemotherapy before surgery had benefits for some bowel cancer patients.
The research showed that giving some chemotherapy before surgery – called 'neoadjuvent' chemotherapy – was safe for bowel cancer patients, reduced complications following surgery and reduced the chances of their cancer coming back. The approach has now become a standard treatment option under NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines for those patients who are younger and fitter and who have fewer other medical conditions.
Researchers are now embarking on the next phases of the trials – FOxTROT 2 and 3, funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research. The aim is to find out whether chemotherapy before surgery can also offer better outcomes for more mature patients or those with other significant medical conditions, as well as whether the treatment can be ‘intensified’ to improve outcomes for younger fitter patients.
The FOxTROT team are looking for participants to take part in the next stage of the research. There are currently 26 sites open for recruitment across the UK, with a further 11 due to open shortly.
To find out more about what the research might involve for you and a list of the UK hospitals taking part in the trials, visit the FOxTROT website.
- Find out about our new research projects, aimed at increasing early diagnosis of bowel cancer
- Read about our five year research strategy
