Robotic vs. TaTME Rectal Surgery (ROTA STUDY)

Background Recent novel surgical techniques for resection of low rectal cancer have been introduced and these approaches have the potential to overcome anatomical limitations like obesity, narrow male pelvis and bulky and low tumours. Two of these procedures are robotic low anterior resection (RLAR) and transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). Both approaches have distinct advantages and limitations however there have been no head to head trial comparing RLAR and TaTME for patients with mid to low rectal cancer undergoing surgery by experienced surgeons. Previous studies looking at the oncological outcomes of either TaTME or robotic TME included many centres where the surgeons were on a learning curve and hence the true oncological outcomes and clinical benefits cannot be measured accurately. The primary objective of this pilot study is to conduct a multicentre prospective trial to investigate clinical outcomes, in particular disease free survival (DFS) in patients undergoing RLAR and TaTME. The additional goal is to investigate other efficacy measures, complications rates, recruitment feasibility and protocol refinement. Method This pilot study will be a prospective, observational, case-matched, two -cohort, multicentre designed to investigate the oncological and clinical outcomes of patients with mid-to-low, non-metastatic rectal cancer undergoing low anterior resection (LAR) using robot-assisted surgery ( RLAR), or transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME). The inclusion criteria consist of experienced surgeons defined as 60 prior procedures with RLAR or TaTME to meet the enrolment criteria for the RLAR and TaTME arm, respectively. Successful oncological and clinical outcomes are defined as circumferential resection margin (CRM) ≥1 mm with minimal postoperative morbidity (absence of Clavien-Dindo grade III-IV complications within 30 days after surgery). Local and distal recurrence rates with DFS over 3 years will be measured as primary outcome. Secondary and exploratory endpoints will include length of hospital stay, intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, harvested lymph nodes, distal resection margin, incompleteness of mesorectum, CRM involvement, unplanned conversion rates, 30-days postoperative complications and overall recurrence rate. The Quality of life assessment questionnaires will be performed preoperatively, 6 months and 12 months after reversal of ileostomy. Propensity score matching will be used to minimize bias from the nonrandomized treatment assignment. The RLAR and TaTME cohorts will be matched by propensity scores accounting for factors significantly associated with either undergoing robotic surgery or TaTME occurrence on logistic regression analysis. Ethics and Dissemination The medical ethical committees of all the participating countries will be involved in approving the study protocol. Results of the primary and secondary end points will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* • Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the trial.

  * Male or Female, aged 18 years or above.
  * Undergoing TME surgery for rectal cancer after MDT discussion.
  * Participant has no contra-indication to pelvic radiotherapy at the time of enrolment.
  * In the Investigator's opinion, is able and willing to comply with all trial requirements.
  * Tumour distance from anal verge - 12 cm or less
  * Willing to allow his or her General Practitioner and consultant, if appropriate, to be notified of participation in the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

* • Female participant who is pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the trial.

  * Participant with life expectancy of less than 6 months.
  * Any other significant disease or disorder which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the trial, or may influence the result of the trial, or the participant's ability to participate in the trial.

• BACKGROUNDWiseman M. The second World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research expert report. Food, nutrition, physical activity, and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective. Proc Nutr Soc. 2008 Aug;67(3):253-6. doi: 10.1017/S002966510800712X. Epub 2008 May 1. PMID 18452640
• BACKGROUNDHeald RJ, Husband EM, Ryall RD. The mesorectum in rectal cancer surgery--the clue to pelvic recurrence? Br J Surg. 1982 Oct;69(10):613-6. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800691019. PMID 6751457
• BACKGROUNDHeald RJ, Ryall RD. Recurrence and survival after total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. Lancet. 1986 Jun 28;1(8496):1479-82. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)91510-2. PMID 2425199
• BACKGROUNDvan der Pas MH, Haglind E, Cuesta MA, Furst A, Lacy AM, Hop WC, Bonjer HJ; COlorectal cancer Laparoscopic or Open Resection II (COLOR II) Study Group. Laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer (COLOR II): short-term outcomes of a randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2013 Mar;14(3):210-8. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(13)70016-0. Epub 2013 Feb 6. PMID 23395398
• BACKGROUNDBonjer HJ, Deijen CL, Abis GA, Cuesta MA, van der Pas MH, de Lange-de Klerk ES, Lacy AM, Bemelman WA, Andersson J, Angenete E, Rosenberg J, Fuerst A, Haglind E; COLOR II Study Group. A randomized trial of laparoscopic versus open surgery for rectal cancer. N Engl J Med. 2015 Apr 2;372(14):1324-32. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1414882. PMID 25830422
• BACKGROUNDJeong SY, Park JW, Nam BH, Kim S, Kang SB, Lim SB, Choi HS, Kim DW, Chang HJ, Kim DY, Jung KH, Kim TY, Kang GH, Chie EK, Kim SY, Sohn DK, Kim DH, Kim JS, Lee HS, Kim JH, Oh JH. Open versus laparoscopic surgery for mid-rectal or low-rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (COREAN trial): survival outcomes of an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Oncol. 2014 Jun;15(7):767-74. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70205-0. Epub 2014 May 15. PMID 24837215