Completed Research

MERCURY

This study led by Professor Gina Brown investigated whether radiologists could use MRI scans to predict when rectal cancer could be successfully treated with surgery alone or whether there was a risk of tumour being left behind. The study changed practice worldwide and was a key factor in shaping how clinicians treat rectal cancer today. Click here for more information

MERCURY 2

This study built on the success of MERCURY but focused on the MRI assessment of low rectal cancers (within 6cm of the anus). The study showed it was possible to reduce the chance of cancer being left behind after surgery and has changed the way radiologists report MRI scans. Click here for more information

Extramural venous invasion in rectal cancer

This project looked at extramural venous invasion (tumour spread into the veins) on both MRI scans and under the microscope in patients with rectal cancer to assess how this affected their survival. Click here for more information

EXPERT-C

This study investigated whether adding cetuximab to standard chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer improved patients’ survival. Click here for more information

AMSOEC

This study looked at patients with early rectal cancer to investigate whether features of the tumour seen under the microscope could predict whether the tumour had spread to the lymph nodes (glands). Click here for more information

FLEX

This study investigated a new technique to remove benign polyps from the bowel, without the need for a major bowel resection, using a combination of endoscopy and keyhole surgery. Click here for more information

6 vs 12

This study investigated whether it was better to wait 6 weeks or 12 weeks after chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer before operating. Standard care is now to wait longer after treatment before operating.

Deferral of surgery

This study investigated the outcomes in patients with rectal cancer who had a “complete response” (where the tumour disappears completely) after chemoradiotherapy.

MRI-Exenterative surgery

This study investigated whether MRI scans could assess the spread of advanced rectal cancer to help plan extenterative surgery (radical surgery to remove the cancer along with any adjacent organs or structure).

TaTME

This study investigated Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) – an operation for rectal cancer which involves removing the lower part of the rectum from “below”, i.e. through the anus rather than the traditional approach through the abdomen. Click here for more information

MINSTREL

This study focused on early rectal cancer and investigated whether MRI could help make the decision between whether patients needed a local excision of the tumour (from inside the bowel) or a radical operation to remove the entire rectum. Click here for more information

LOREC-APE

This study investigated national practices in carrying out abdomino-perineal excision (APE) surgery (removal of the rectum and anus) for patients with cancer very low in the rectum. The study focused on the method of closing the wound where the anus used to be to assess which method was best.

WISE

This study investigated whether it was possible to distinguish between bowel cancers in the sigmoid colon from those in the rectum by looking at the appearance of the bowel on MRI scans. This is important as tumours in each location are treated differently.