Clinical trial · Observational
Low Rectal Cancer Study (MERCURY II)
The Low Rectal Cancer Study.
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The MERCURY Study demonstrated the accuracy, feasibility and reproducibility of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to stage rectal cancer in a prospective, multidisciplinary, multi-centre study. However, there were differences in patient outcome, dependent upon the position of the tumour in the rectum and its height above the anal verge. Whilst the outcome was excellent for patients who underwent an anterior resection, the outcome, based upon margin involvement and quality of the specimen, was poor for patients who underwent an abdomino-perineal excision for low rectal cancer. It is proposed that accurate MRI staging pre-operatively will allow the correct patients to receive neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and also pre-warn the surgeons if the resection margins appear threatened so that the operation can be modified to take this into account. The primary aims of the Low Rectal Cancer Study (MERCURY II) are to assess the rate of CRM positivity rate in low rectal cancer and to assess the difference in global quality of life at two years post surgery in patients according to plane of surgery with or without sphincter preservation.
Conditions
Conditions (16)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adenocarcinoma | Adenocarcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.90 |
| Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous | Mucinous Adenocarcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Carcinoma | Carcinoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Colorectal Neoplasms | Colorectal Neoplasm | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Digestive System Diseases | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Digestive System Neoplasms | Digestive System Neoplasm | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
| Gastrointestinal Diseases | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
| Gastrointestinal Neoplasms | Digestive System Neoplasm | ALIAS |
Interventions
Interventions (0)
Data not yet available
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (1)
- label
- Staging and outcomes for patients with Low Rectal Cancer
- description
- Low Rectal Cancer defined on MRI as a cancer within 6cm of the anal verge
Primary outcomes (2)
- measure
- To assess the rate of CRM positivity rate in low rectal cancer.
- timeFrame
- 4 years
- measure
- To compare global quality of life at two years post surgery in patients according to plane of surgery with or without sphincter preservation.
- timeFrame
- 8 years
Secondary outcomes (6)
- measure
- To compare patient reported outcomes in patients according to plane of surgery with or without sphincter preservation.
- timeFrame
- 8 years
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Ability to give informed, written consent. * Adults age 18 or over - male or female. * Recently diagnosed with biopsy-proven, primary, low rectal cancer. * No previous therapy for rectal cancer. Exclusion Criteria: * Current pregnancy, including ectopic pregnancy. * Previous pelvic/rectal malignancy (excluding carcinoma in-situ). * Previous pelvic radiotherapy. * Previous pelvic floor surgery for faecal incontinence or prolapse.
References
Publications (1)
- DERIVEDBattersby NJ, How P, Moran B, Stelzner S, West NP, Branagan G, Strassburg J, Quirke P, Tekkis P, Pedersen BG, Gudgeon M, Heald B, Brown G; MERCURY II Study Group. Prospective Validation of a Low Rectal Cancer Magnetic Resonance Imaging Staging System and Development of a Local Recurrence Risk Stratification Model: The MERCURY II Study. Ann Surg. 2016 Apr;263(4):751-60. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001193. PMID 25822672