Molecular Stool Testing for Colorectal Cancer Surveillance (MOCCAS)

Rationale: Since January 2014 the Dutch screening programme for bowel cancer has been implemented. Screening will increase the demand for surveillance. Although patients in whom adenomas have been removed are at increased risk of progressing to cancer, solid evidence on the reduction of death from CRC through the current colonoscopy-based surveillance is lacking. Furthermore, colonoscopy-based surveillance leads to high logistic demands, high individual burden and high costs. Therefore, there is need for new surveillance strategies. Stool-based molecular testing (Cologuard®, consisting of a stool DNA test and an immunochemical assay for human hemoglobin) or Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) may serve as an alternative for colonoscopy surveillance.

The aim of this study is to compare the accuracy of an established molecular stool test (Cologuard®) and FIT to colonoscopy for detection of advanced adenomas or CRC (advanced neoplasia) in a surveillance population. These outcomes will be used to model various strategies of stool-based molecular surveillance to inform health policy decisions.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Collection of stool sample

Detailed Description

BACKGROUND: Since January 2014 the Dutch screening programme for colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has been implemented. Screening will increase the demand for surveillance. However, solid evidence on the reduction of death from CRC through the current colonoscopy-based surveillance is lacking. Furthermore, colonoscopy-based surveillance leads to high logistic demands, high patient burden and high costs. Therefore, there is need for new surveillance strategies. Stool-based molecular testing (Cologuard®) or Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) may serve as an alternative for colonoscopy surveillance.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To compare the accuracy of an established molecular stool test (Cologuard®) and FIT to colonoscopy for detection of advanced adenomas or CRC (advanced neoplasia) in a surveillance population.
2. To model various strategies of stool-based molecular surveillance to inform health policy decisions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective observational cross-sectional cohort study, individuals aged 50-75 years that are scheduled for surveillance colonoscopy will be invited to participate. They are asked to collect a whole-stool sample prior to the surveillance colonoscopy. The sample will be used to test for the presence of molecular stool markers. The results of the molecular stool test and FIT will be compared to the colonoscopy findings.

EXPECTED RESULTS: Frequent surveillance using stool-based molecular testing is more cost-effective than the current colonoscopy-based surveillance.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 3966

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Netherlands
  • Noord-Holland
    • Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands, 1066 CX
      • Nethelands Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The intended population of this study consists all subjects in the participating centres that are elected for colonoscopy surveillance.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Subjects in the age group 50-75 years. The lower age limit is set at 50 years because of the high probability of familiar predisposition when advanced neoplasm is present in a younger age group.26 The upper age limit of 75 years is in correspondence with the recommended stop-age for surveillance according to the current guideline.9
• Subjects with an indication for surveillance colonoscopy according to the previous guideline ('Follow up after polypectomy', 2002; summarized in 2008) or current ('Colonoscopy Surveillance', 2013) guideline. This includes subjects with a history of CRC or polypectomy, as well as subjects under surveillance for familial colorectal carcinoma (FCC).
• Subjects who have sufficient comprehension of the Dutch language.
• Subjects who have given their informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

• Subjects with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Subjects with Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), attenuated FAP (AFAP), MUTYH associated polyposis (MAP) and serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS)
• Subjects with a previous colonoscopy < 6 months (rescopy)
• Subjects with proctocolectomy
• Subjects with life expectancy < 3 years

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
accuracy of molecular stool test (Cologuard) and FIT	The accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV) of the molecular stool test (Cologuard®) and FIT compared to colonoscopy in the detection of advanced neoplasia in a surveillance population.	Patient inclusion for the calculation of the accuracies is expected to take 2-3 years.
cost-effectiveness of stool-based surveillance strategies using the ASCCA (Adenoma and Serrated pathway to Colorectal CAncer) model	Cost-effectiveness of multiple surveillance strategies, using test performance data as input in the ASCCA (Adenoma and Serrated pathway to Colorectal CAncer) model.	This will be calculated when all accuracy data (outcome 1) are available. This is expected to be 6 months after end of study.
life time health effects of stool-based surveillance strategies using the ASCCA (Adenoma and Serrated pathway to Colorectal CAncer) model	The ASCCA model will be used to predict outcomes, including cancer incidence and mortality, for different surveillance strategies.	This will be calculated when all accuracy data (outcome 1) are available. This is expected to be 6 months after end of study.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
risk of CRC	Risk factors for detecting advanced colonic neoplasia have been identified, of which the most established include gender, age, BMI, family history, physical activity, nutritional habits and smoking. Participants will be asked to complete a validated online questionnaire evaluating these risk factors.	up to one month after surveillance colonoscopy
presence of Cologuard marker pannel on resected tissue of polyps	A challenge associated with the use of molecular markers is to find a panel of markers that represents the heterogeneity of the tumour. Therefore it is of interest to analyse whether the markers included in the Cologuard are present in the tissue of resected polyps.	Analysis will be performed during the study and approximately 1 year after end of study
presence of previously identified progression biomarker on resected tissue samples of polyps	The identification of biomarkers involved in the progression from colorectal adenoma to carcinoma (progression biomarkers) could aid better risk-stratification of adenomas and thereby decrease over-diagnosis and over-treatment . As a secondary objective we will therefore analyse previously identified progression biomarkers in the tissue samples of polyps obtained during colonoscopy.	Analysis will be performed during the study and approximately 1 year after end of study

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Netherlands Cancer Institute
• Collaborators: Maastricht University Medical Center; Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• van Lanschot MC, Carvalho B, Coupe VM, van Engeland M, Dekker E, Meijer GA. Molecular stool testing as an alternative for surveillance colonoscopy: a cross-sectional cohort study. BMC Cancer. 2017 Feb 7;17(1):116. doi: 10.1186/s12885-017-3078-y.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): December 15, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 17, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 16, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): March 22, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 25, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2022
• Last Verified: January 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: surveillance, molecular stool testing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Intestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: M15MOC; NL52708.018.15 (Other Identifier: CCMO, the Netherlands)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO