IMPACT I Project
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving outcomes in Advanced Colorectal Tumours: The IMPACT I Project. Assessing multidisciplinary team management and referral patterns of patients with locally advanced and recurrent rectal cancer in the UK
IRAS ID
275198
Contact name
Deena Harji
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
In the United Kingdom around 14,000 new cases of rectal cancer are diagnosed every year. It is estimated between 5-10% of rectal cancer will be locally advanced at presentation and may require an extended resection (locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC)). Furthermore, it is estimated approximately 10% of patients will develop a local recurrence following previous curative resection of rectal cancer (locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC)). The management of these patients is often complex and requires multidisciplinary surgical and oncological input. There is significant disparity in the management of patients with LARC and LRRC, with inconsistent referral practices and variable access to specialist centres. This is coupled with significant heterogeneity in clinical decision making with regards to patient selection and treatment strategies. Previous works in the UK concentrating on LRRC have demonstrated a variable national clinical service leading to inequality in the delivery of healthcare with no standardised referral protocols and no robust outcome data reporting.
The IMPACT (Improving outcomes in advanced colorectal tumours) initiative was launched by the Association of Coloproctologists of Great Britain and Ireland with an aim to improving outcomes in all patients with locally advanced, recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer. An initial priority setting exercise identified the need to identify current clinical services as a key step towards ensuring equity in access to specialist services and resources with the end aim to improve clinical and patient reported outcomes. The aim of IMPACT I is to collect patient data at an MDT level to identify referral patterns, decision-making and treatment strategies in ALL patients with LARC and LRRC and to link this to routinely collected clinical datasets to measure short term clinical and oncological outcomes.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0077
Date of REC Opinion
23 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion