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Study of Oral Metronidazole on Postoperative Chemotherapy in Colorectal Cancer

Phase 2
Recruiting
Conditions
Colorectal Cancer Stage III
Colorectal Cancer Stage II
Interventions
Drug: Placebo oral tablet
Registration Number
NCT04264676
Lead Sponsor
Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Brief Summary

Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Fn) has been identified as an independent risk factor for recurrence of colorectal cancer. In this study, oral metronidazole would be used to reduce the abundance of Fn in patients with high Fn, so as to explore whether oral metronidazole can improve the efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Detailed Description

Gut microbiota are linked to chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis. Chemotherapy failure is the major cause of recurrence and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. Previously in the investigators' research, the investigators find the contribution of gut microbiota to chemoresistance in patients with colorectal cancer. The investigators found that Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) was abundant in colorectal cancer tissues in patients with recurrence post chemotherapy, and was associated with patient clinicopathological characterisitcs. Furthermore, the investigators' bioinformatic and functional studies demonstrated that Fn promoted colorectal cancer resistance to chemotherapy. Metronidazole has been known to treat with anaerobe infection, including Fusobacterium. So oral metronidazole would be used to reduce the abundance of Fn in patients with high Fn, so as to explore whether oral metronidazole can improve the efficacy of postoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
294
Inclusion Criteria
  • Individuals aged 18-75 years
  • Individuals firstly confirmed by surgery pathology as colorectal cancer (AJCC cancer staging II - III), who need mFOLFOX6 or CapeOX postoperative chemotherapy
  • Individuals with Fn - deltaCT value in colon tissue samples detected by qPCR ≥-12 before receiving chemotherapy
  • Individuals who could tolerate chemotherapy drugs: ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) score ≤2 points, WBC(White Blood Cell) ≥4.0×10^9/L, Hb (Hemoglobin) ≥80g/L, PLT (Platelet) ≥80×10^9/L, ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)< 2ULN (Upper Limmit of Normal), Scr (Creatinine)< 1.5ULN
  • Individuals who participate this study and sign the informed consent form willingly.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Individuals with colorectal adenoma or non-colorectal cancer, such as inflammatory bowel disease
  • Individuals with a history of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
  • Individuals with severe heart, lung, brain, kidney, gastrointestinal or systemic diseases
  • Individuals who used antibiotics for more than 5 days in 1 month prior to chemotherapy
  • Individuals with stage I or IV colorectal cancer, or with stage II colorectal cancer who do not need postoperative chemotherapy
  • Individuals with contraindications for metronidazole
  • Individuals who unwilling to participate this study,or unwilling to sign the informed consent form
  • Individuals with any conditions that the researchers considered inappropriate for inclusion

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
PlaceboPlacebo oral tabletsupplement of identical-appearing placebo 0.4g three times per day for 7 days, which is one treatment every 4 weeks for mFOLFOX6 (6 treatments totally),and every 6 weeks for CapeOX 4 treatments totally).
MetronidazoleMetronidazole Oral Tabletsupplement of metronidazole 0.4g three times per day for 7 days, which is one treatment every 4 weeks for mFOLFOX6(6 treatments totally),and every 6 weeks for CapeOX (4 treatments totally).
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Disease Free Survival, DFS5 years

The time from the initial surgical treatment of colorectal cancer to the earliest evidence of recurrence.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Overall Survival, OS5 years

The time from the initial surgical treatment of colorectal cancer to death from any cause.

Recurrence Rate, RR3 years, 5 years

Percentage of patients who has recurrence during or after chemotherapy with Metronidazole or Placebo.

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ren-Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Ministry of Health

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Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University

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Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center

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Shanghai, Shanghai, China

Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

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Shanghai, Shanghai, China

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