Low Rectal Cancer Study
With better staging and documentation of the tumours and radial/ circumferential margins (pathologically) preoperatively, a reduction in margin positivity rates can be achieved.
The Low Rectal Cancer Study (short title MERCURY II) is a multicentre observational study of patients with low rectal adenocarcinoma.
The main hypothesis is 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, leading to a reduction in margin (CRM) positivity .
The cohort was divided into two analysis populations, phase I, which includes all patients recruited up to and including December 1st 2011, and phase II, including all patients recruited subsequently to March 3rd 2013. Recruitment is now closed and follow-up is due to continue until March 2018.
The MERCURY II trial is now closed to recruitment.
Please fill in the form below if you would like further information or have any questions about any aspect of the trial.