Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study of Clinical and Molecular Biomarkers in Colorectal Cancer

October 28, 2026 updated by: Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment

Prospective Cohort Study to Investigate Clinical Factors and Molecular Biomarkers Associated With Treatment Response and Disease Outcomes in Patients With Colorectal Cancer in Vorarlberg, Austria

This prospective, multicenter observational study aims to identify clinical and molecular biomarkers associated with treatment response, disease recurrence, progression, and survival in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Approximately 200 adult patients undergoing surgical resection for CRC will be enrolled and followed for up to five years. Tumor tissue and blood samples will be collected for molecular analyses, and clinical data will be recorded longitudinally to investigate associations between biomarkers and disease outcomes.

All treatment decisions will follow standard clinical practice and will not be influenced by study participation.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease characterized by substantial variability in tumor biology, treatment response, and clinical outcomes. The identification of reliable molecular biomarkers may improve risk stratification, facilitate the detection of disease recurrence, and support the development of personalized treatment strategies.

This prospective, multicenter observational cohort study aims to establish a longitudinal biobank of biological specimens linked to comprehensive clinical data from patients with colorectal cancer undergoing surgical treatment.

Biological specimens, including tumor tissue, adjacent non-malignant tissue, and peripheral blood, will be collected and stored for molecular and biochemical investigations. Serial blood sampling during follow-up will enable the investigation of longitudinal changes in circulating biomarkers and their potential association with disease progression, treatment response, and clinical outcomes.

Planned research activities include molecular characterization of tumor tissue, analysis of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), investigation of tumor-associated genetic alterations, gene expression profiling, and measurement of circulating biomarkers. Where feasible, patient-derived tumor cells may also be isolated and cultured for exploratory investigations.

Clinical information, including tumor characteristics, treatment modalities, and disease course, will be documented prospectively and linked to the collected biological specimens. This integrated approach will enable the investigation of associations between molecular characteristics, longitudinal biomarker dynamics, and clinical outcomes.

The study is intended to provide a comprehensive research resource for identifying and validating prognostic and predictive biomarkers in colorectal cancer. All diagnostic and therapeutic decisions will be made according to routine clinical practice and will not be influenced by study participation.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
200

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Austria
    • Vorarlberg
      • Bregenz, Vorarlberg, Austria, 6900
        • Recruiting
        • Landeskrankenhaus Bregenz
        • Contact:
          • Claudius Falch, MD
      • Feldkirch, Vorarlberg, Austria, 6800
        • Recruiting
        • Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch
        • Contact:
          • Jürgen Parzefall, MD
        • Contact:
          • Markus Weigl, MD
      • Hohenems, Vorarlberg, Austria, 6845
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Landeskrankenhaus Hohenems
      • Rankweil, Vorarlberg, Austria, 6830
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Landeskrankenhaus Rankweil

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of adult patients (aged 18 years or older) diagnosed with colorectal cancer who undergo surgical resection at participating hospitals in Vorarlberg, Austria. Patients will be consecutively recruited irrespective of tumor stage (UICC I-IV) or planned neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment. All participants must provide written informed consent. Clinical data and biological samples will be collected prospectively, and patients will be followed for up to five years after surgery.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years.
  • Histologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma.
  • Planned surgical resection of the primary colorectal tumor.
  • Written informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age <18 years.
  • Pregnancy.
  • Individuals held in custody by order of a court or public authority.
  • Known current alcohol and/or illicit drug abuse that, in the investigator's judgment, may compromise participant safety and/or compliance.
  • Inability to understand and sign the informed consent form.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: PROSPECTIVE

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to 5 years after surgical resection

Overall survival (OS) is defined as the time from surgical resection of colorectal cancer to death from any cause. Patients who are alive at the end of the follow-up period will be censored at the date they were last known to be alive.
Up to 5 years after surgical resection

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Disease-Free Survival (DFS)
Time Frame: Up to 5 years after surgical resection

Disease-free survival (DFS) is defined as the time from achievement of a disease-free state following curative-intent treatment to the first documented recurrence of colorectal cancer or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. DFS will be assessed in patients with no evidence of residual disease following treatment, including patients with completely resected metastatic disease. Patients without an event will be censored at the date of their last available disease assessment.
Up to 5 years after surgical resection
Progression-Free Survival (PFS)
Time Frame: Up to 5 years after surgical resection

Progression-free survival (PFS) is defined as the time from surgical resection to the first documented disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. PFS will be assessed in patients with residual or metastatic colorectal cancer following surgery. Patients without an event will be censored at the date of their last available disease assessment.
Up to 5 years after surgical resection

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Thomas Winder, MD, PhD, Landeskrankenhaus Feldkirch
  • Study Director: Axel Muendlein, PhD, Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 23, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2033

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 28, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 3, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
November 3, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • DK-24-05-2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

IPD Plan Description

No formal plan for sharing individual participant data (IPD) with external researchers has been established. Any future data sharing will be subject to applicable data protection regulations, ethical requirements, and appropriate data-sharing agreements. Study results will be published in aggregated form.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings