FITS Study v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Faecal Immunochemical Tests (FIT) for Surveillance after Colorectal Cancer (CRC) study (FITS study)
IRAS ID
281229
Contact name
David Humes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background
16,000 people die of bowel cancer each year in the UK. Nearly half of all patients who have an operation may find that their cancer returns, usually in the liver or lungs, but sometimes the large bowel. Doctors advise camera tests of the bowel (colonoscopies) after surgery to detect further cancers. Colonoscopy can be unpleasant and sometimes results in serious harm. FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) detects hidden blood in poo which can be a sign of bowel cancer or polyps (small growths in the bowel that are potentially precancerous). FIT is used for bowel cancer screening and for some patients with symptoms. The role of FIT in follow-up after cancer surgery is not clear and requires further research.
Aims
In the UK, 25,000 patients have surgery each year for bowel cancer. Nearly 60% live for at least five years. FIT may offer an alternative to colonoscopy, and thus many patients could avoid this distressing test. We want to collect FIT samples from patients who are having a colonoscopy 3/4 years after bowel cancer surgery, to see if FIT is accurate at identifying cancer return or significant polyps in this group.
Methods
We will recruit 1000 people due to have colonoscopy after bowel cancer surgery in the East Midlands. They will be sent a letter before their test to invite them to the study. They will be asked to return one postal FIT sample in addition to their usual care. FIT results will be compared with colonoscopy results to determine how well it diagnoses bowel cancer or polyps.
Our public contributors helped us shape our research plan. They spoke of the unpleasant, distressing nature of invasive tests after surgery. They wanted to explore other strategies, to improve use and free up tests for those who need an initial diagnosis of cancer.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/NW/0031
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion