COLO-DETECT: Can an Artificial Intelligence Device Increase Detection of Polyps During Colonoscopy?

COLO-DETECT: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Lesion Detection at Colonoscopy Using the GI Genius Artificial Intelligence Platform

COLO-DETECT is a clinical trial to evaluate whether an Artificial Intelligence device ("GI Genius", manufactured by Medtronic) can identify more polyps (pre-cancerous growths of the bowel lining) during colonoscopy (large bowel camera test) than during colonoscopy without it.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Colonic Polyp; Colorectal Adenoma; Colorectal Polyp; Colorectal SSA; Colorectal Adenomatous Polyp; Sessile Serrated Adenoma; Sessile Colonic Polyp
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: GI Genius-assisted diagnostic colonoscopy; Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Colonoscopy

Detailed Description

Colorectal cancer is common, affecting 1 in 15 men and 1 in 18 women in the UK in their lifetime. Many colorectal cancers develop from polyps via the adenoma-carcinoma sequence: there is a pre-cancerous stage (adenoma) during which it is possible to remove the polyp and therefore prevent it from progressing to colorectal cancer. The gold standard tool for doing this is colonoscopy. However, colonoscopy does not pick up all polyps, particularly flat polyps.

Missed polyps can result in colorectal cancer, so it is imperative to detect and remove as many polyps as possible. Many different interventions have been introduced to improve polyp detection, the most recent of which is artificial intelligence devices. GI Genius is an artificial intelligence device which integrates with existing colonoscopy equipment and analyses the video feed from the colonoscope camera in real time. Any areas that may represent an abnormality are then highlighted (without any lag) within a green box, alerting the colonoscopist to its presence. The potential abnormality can then be assessed more closely by the colonoscopist to decide whether it needs to be removed or not.

COLO-DETECT is a 2-arm, prospective, randomised controlled trial to assess whether GI Genius is able to detect more polyps (specifically, adenomas) during colonoscopy than standard colonoscopy without GI Genius. The primary outcome will be the mean number of adenomas per procedure (MAP) and the key secondary outcome will be the proportion of colonoscopies in which one or more adenomas is detected (Adenoma Detection Rate - ADR). These are both important quality markers for colonoscopy; the study will be powered to detect a clinically meaningful difference in ADR, which will by default detect a meaningful difference in MAP as the sample size required for ADR is larger.

In addition to measuring the effect of GI Genius on polyp detection, COLO-DETECT will provide a health economics analysis concerning the use of GI Genius, perform long-term passive follow-up to examine for future outcomes related to colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer, and perform additional nested studies (subject to ethical approval) that examine the effect upon users (for example through a visual scanning study) and their experience of using the GI Genius.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 2032
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Bolton, United Kingdom, BL4 0JR
    • Bolton NHS Foundation Trust
  • County Durham
    • Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom, TS24 9AH
      • North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
  • Cumbria
    • Kendal, Cumbria, United Kingdom, LA9 7RG
      • University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust
  • North Tyneside
    • North Shields, North Tyneside, United Kingdom, NE29 8NH
      • Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
  • Northamptonshire
    • Kettering, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom, NN16 8UZ
      • Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Sussex
    • Worthing, Sussex, United Kingdom, BN11 2DH
      • University Hospitals Sussex Nhs Foundation Trust
  • Teesside
    • Middlesbrough, Teesside, United Kingdom
      • South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Tyne & Wear
    • Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom, NE7 7DN
      • The Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Tyne And Wear
    • Sunderland, Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom, SR4 7TP
      • South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
  • West Midlands
    • Wolverhampton, West Midlands, United Kingdom, WV10 0QP
      • The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Able to give informed consent

• Patients attending for colonoscopy

  • Through standard National Health Service (NHS) care (most commonly due to iron deficiency anaemia, altered bowel habit, weight loss, rectal bleeding, positive FIT (faecal immunohistochemical test) based on symptoms, those referred on basis of family history, abnormal cross- sectional imaging, polyp surveillance or post CRC surveillance)
  • Through Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (FIT positive, surveillance)
• Colonoscopy to be performed by colonoscopist trained to perform GGC as part of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Absolute contraindications to colonoscopy
• Patients lacking capacity to give informed consent
• Confirmed or expected pregnancy
• Established or suspected large bowel obstruction or pseudo-obstruction
• Known presence of colorectal cancer or polyposis syndromes
• Known colonic strictures (meaning that the colonoscopy maybe incomplete)
• Known active colitis (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's colitis, diverticulitis, infective colitis)
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) surveillance procedures
• Patients who are on clopidogrel, warfarin, or other antiplatelet agents or anticoagulants who have not stopped this for the procedure (as polyps cannot be removed and thus histology cannot be confirmed)
• Patients who are attending for a planned therapeutic procedure or assessment of a known lesion
• Patients referred with polyps identified on Bowel Scope procedure

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: GI Genius-assisted colonoscopy (GGC); In the GGC arm, participants will undergo colonoscopy as per standard care for the unit where they are having their procedure, except that at some point prior to commencing withdrawal of the colonoscope, a member of the endoscopy staff will turn on the GI Genius machine. This will remain operational from the time it is switched on until the end of the procedure.	Device: GI Genius-assisted diagnostic colonoscopy; Participants will undergo diagnostic colonoscopy, which will be identical to the normal standard of care at the unit where they are undergoing their procedure, except that GI Genius will be turned on during the procedure.
Active Comparator: Standard Colonoscopy (SC); In the SC arm, participants will undergo colonoscopy as per standard care for the unit where they are having their procedure.	Diagnostic test: Diagnostic Colonoscopy; Diagnostic colonoscopy will be performed as per the standard of care for the unit where the patient is having their procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of adenomas per participant detected at colonoscopy as indicated by the Mean Number of Adenomas per Procedure (MAP)	The number of adenomas identified during each colonoscopy will be summed and divided by the total number of colonoscopies performed. MAP is usually expressed as a number to one decimal place (e.g. 1.2).	The number of adenomas detected in each procedure will be counted at 14 days post-procedure

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of participants in whom at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by the Adenoma Detection Rate (ADR)	Whether or not at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant. The number of colonoscopies where one or more adenomas is identified will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies to give the ADR. ADR is usually expressed as a percentage.	The presence or absence of any adenomas will be determined at 14 days post-procedure
Number of adenomas per participant detected at colonoscopy in the 'screening' participant population, as indicated by MAP for that participant population.	The number of adenomas identified during each colonoscopy within the 'screening' participant population will be summed and divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population. The MAP for the 'screening' participant population within each study arm will be compared	The number of adenomas detected will be counted at 14 days post-procedure
Number of adenomas per participant detected at colonoscopy in the 'symptomatic' participant population, as indicated by MAP for that participant population	The number of adenomas identified during each colonoscopy within the 'symptomatic' participant population will be summed and divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate MAP. The MAP for the 'symptomatic' participant population within each study arm will be compared	The number of adenomas detected will be counted at 14 days post-procedure
Proportion of participants in the 'screening' participant population in whom at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by ADR for that participant population	Whether or not at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant within the 'screening' participant population. The number of colonoscopies where one or more adenomas is identified will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate ADR. The ADR for the 'screening' participant population within each study arm will be compared	The presence or absence of any adenomas will be determined at 14 days post-procedure
Proportion of participants in the 'symptomatic' participant population in whom at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by ADR for that participant population	Whether or not at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant within the 'symptomatic' participant population. The number of colonoscopies where one or more adenomas is identified will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate ADR. The ADR for the 'symptomatic' participant population within each study arm will be compared	The presence or absence of any adenomas will be determined at 14 days post-procedure
Number of polyps per participant detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by the Mean number of Polyps per Procedure (MPP)	The total number of polyps detected during each colonoscopy will be summed, and divided by the total number of colonoscopies, to calculate MPP. MPP is usually expressed as a number to one decimal place.	Total number of polyps detected at colonoscopy will be determined at the end of the procedure
Number of polyps per participant detected at colonoscopy in the 'screening' participant population, as indicated by the Mean number of Polyps per Procedure (MPP)	The total number of polyps detected during colonoscopy for each participant within the 'screening' participant population. will be summed, and divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population, to calculate MPP. MPP is usually expressed as a number to one decimal place.	Total number of polyps detected at colonoscopy will be determined at the end of the procedure
Number of polyps per participant detected at colonoscopy in the 'symptomatic' participant population,as indicated by the Mean number of Polyps per Procedure (MPP)	The total number of polyps detected during colonoscopy for each participant within the 'symptomatic' participant population will be summed, and divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population, to calculate MPP. MPP is usually expressed as a number to one decimal place.	Total number of polyps detected at colonoscopy will be determined at the end of the procedure
Proportion of participants in whom at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by Polyp Detection Rate (PDR)	Whether or not at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant. The number of colonoscopies where one or more polyps is detected will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate PDR, which is normally expressed as a percentage.	The presence or absence of at least one polyp will be determined at the end of the procedure
Proportion of participants in the 'screening' participant population in whom at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by Polyp Detection Rate (PDR)	Whether or not at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant within the 'screening' participant population. The number of colonoscopies where one or more polyps is identified will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate PDR, which is normally expressed as a percentage.	The presence or absence of at least one polyp will be determined at the end of the procedure
Proportion of participants in the 'symptomatic' participant population in whom at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy, as indicated by Polyp Detection Rate (PDR)	Whether or not at least one polyp is detected at colonoscopy will be determined for each participant within the 'symptomatic' participant population. The number of colonoscopies where one or more polyps is identified will be divided by the total number of colonoscopies in that participant population to calculate PDR, which is normally expressed as a percentage.	The presence or absence of at least one polyp will be determined at the end of the procedure
Polyp characteristics and location	The location, size, and morphology of the polyps identified (and histology if retrieved) in each study arm will be compared. This will also be analysed for both the screening and symptomatic participant populations in each study arm.	Assessed over duration of colonoscopy procedure and at time of 14 day post-colonoscopy review (once histology is known)
Sessile Serrated Polyp (SSP) detection rate	The number of colonoscopies in each study arm in which one or more SSPs is identified, divided by the total number of colonoscopies in each arm. This will also be analysed for both the screening and symptomatic participant populations in each study arm.	SSP Detection Rate will be calculated at the time of study completion, expected to be 18 months
Colorectal Cancer (CRC) detection rate	The number of CRCs detected in each study arm divided by the total number of colonoscopies in each arm. This will include polyps removed and later found to cancerous on histology and lesions felt to be cancerous at the time of colonoscopy. This will also be analysed for both the screening and symptomatic participant populations in each study arm.	CRC Detection Rate will be calculated at the time of study completion, expected to be 18 months
Advanced Adenoma (AA) detection rate	The number of AAs detected in each study arm divided by the total number of colonoscopies in each arm. This will also be analysed for both the screening and symptomatic participant populations in each study arm.	AA Detection Rate will be calculated at the time of study completion, expected to be 18 months
Caecal Intubation Rate	Caecal intubation rate (the proportion of colonoscopies in which the colonoscope reaches the furthest extent of the colon) will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Caecal Intubation Rate will be calculated at the time of study completion, expected to be 18 months
Insertion time to caecum	Insertion time to caecum (time taken to reach the furthest point of the large bowel) will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Measured during colonoscopy within the study.
Total Procedure Time	Total time required to perform the colonoscopy will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Measured during colonoscopy within the study.
Total Withdrawal Time (in absence of polyps)	Total withdrawal time (time taken to remove the colonoscope from the furthest point of the colon) in the absence of any polyps will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Measured during colonoscopy within the study.
Colonoscopist-assessed patient comfort score	Colonoscopist-assessed patient comfort scores will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Measured during colonoscopy within the study.
Nurse-assessed patient comfort score	Nurse-assessed patient comfort scores will be compared between the study arms to assess for non-inferiority	Measured during colonoscopy within the study.
Patient-Reported Experience	A validated Patient-Reported Experience Measure (Newcastle ENDOPREM) will be used to compare patient experience of colonoscopy between study arms	Assessed one day after the procedure
Patient-Reported Health-Related Quality of Life	The EuroQoL EQ-5D-5L (validated quality of life questionnaire) will be used to compare patient-reported health-related quality of life, between study arms	Assessed one day after the procedure
Projected future endoscopy workload	The need for further colonoscopy for each participant is determined by the findings at the index colonoscopy, according to national guidelines on polyp surveillance. This may differ between study arms if more polyps are identified in one arm.	Assessed immediately after colonoscopy
MAP according to BCSP status of colonoscopist	Some colonoscopists partake in the national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) and some do not. MAP will be analysed by colonoscopist status within each study arm.	At the time of 14-day review
ADR according to BCSP status of colonoscopist	Some colonoscopists partake in the national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP) and some do not. ADR will be analysed by colonoscopist status within each study arm.	At the time of 14-day review
Change in number of adenomas detected per colonoscopy, for each colonoscopist, over the course of the study, as indicated by MAP	MAP for the first 20 percent of participants will be compared to MAP for the last 20 percent of participants scoped by each participating colonoscopist, to assess for change over the course of the study.	At the time of 14-day review
Change in proportion of participants in whom at least one adenoma is detected during colonoscopy, for each colonoscopist, over the course of the study, as indicated by ADR.	ADR for the first 20 percent of participants will be compared to ADR for the last 20 percent of participants scoped by each participating colonoscopist, to assess for change over the course of the study.	At the time of 14-day review
Change in number of adenomas detected per participant, for each participating colonoscopist, from pre-study to intra-study (SC arm only)	MAP may vary from baseline, even in the control arm due to a contamination or learning effect; comparing baseline values to those during the study assesses for this effect.	At the time of 14-day review
Proportion of participants in whom at least one adenoma is detected during colonoscopy, for each participating colonoscopist, from pre-study to intra-study (SC arm only)	ADR may vary from baseline, even in the control arm due to a contamination or learning effect; comparing baseline values to those during the study assesses for this effect.	At the time of 14-day review

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cost-effectiveness of GGC versus SC	Equipment, staff, histology, unplanned admission, and other related costs will be calculated and used to determine cost-effectiveness of GGC versus SC.	Costs associated with each participant's procedure and care will be calculated at time of 14-day review
Number of adenomas per participant detected at colonoscopy, amongst colonoscopists not participating in the study, as indicated by MAP	MAP values over the duration of the study, for colonoscopists not participating in the study but performing colonoscopy at study sites, will assist with baseline comparisons. These data are reported by endoscopy units as part of the normal endoscopy quality assurance programme.	At time of 14-day review
Proportion of participants in whom at least one adenoma is detected at colonoscopy, by colonoscopists not participating in the study, as indicated by ADR	ADR values over the duration of the study, for colonoscopists not participating in the study but performing colonoscopy at study sites, will assist with baseline comparisons. These data are reported by endoscopy units as part of the normal endoscopy quality assurance programme.	At time of 14-day review

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
• Collaborators: Medtronic; Newcastle University; North Wales Organisation for Randomised Trials in Health
• Investigators: Study Director: Colin J Rees, MBBS, Newcastle University, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Seager A, Sharp L, Hampton JS, Neilson LJ, Lee TJW, Brand A, Evans R, Vale L, Whelpton J, Rees CJ. Trial protocol for COLO-DETECT: A randomized controlled trial of lesion detection comparing colonoscopy assisted by the GI Genius artificial intelligence endoscopy module with standard colonoscopy. Colorectal Dis. 2022 Oct;24(10):1227-1237. doi: 10.1111/codi.16219. Epub 2022 Jun 28.

Helpful Links

• COLO-SPEED Platform website,containing details of the COLO-SPEED network, studies linked to it and recent articles related to colorectal cancer research.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 29, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 6, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): April 20, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 5, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 20, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): January 26, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 28, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Diagnostic Colonoscopy; Computer-Aided Detection
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Intestinal Polyps; Adenoma; Polyps; Colonic Polyps; Adenomatous Polyps
• Other Study ID Numbers: COLO-DETECT; 286426 (Other Identifier: IRAS); 21-WS-003 (Other Identifier: REC Reference); 10451355 (Other Identifier: ISRCTN)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No