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NCT Number: NCT07599501

Nutritional Supplementation to Improve Colorectal Cancer Surgery

This study aims to explore the effectiveness of perioperative Oral Nutritional Supplementation (ONS) combined with an optimized, tailored diet in reducing the risk of postoperative complications and improving the nutritional status of colorectal cancer patients scheduled for curative colorectal resection.

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Key information

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer Colonic Diseases Colorectal Neoplasms Colorectal Surgery Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gastrointestinal Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Intestinal Diseases Intestinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Rectal Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

The rate of postoperative complications after colorectal cancer surgery is around 35%. The preoperative nutritional status significantly influences the postoperative outcomes, and several studies have investigated the effect of perioperative nutritional interventions with mixed results. This study aims to explore the effect of perioperative Oral Nutritional Supplementation (ONS) on the postoperative outcomes of colorectal cancer patients receiving preoperative dietary optimization. Participants scheduled for elective curative colorectal cancer surgery will undergo a detailed preoperative nutritional screening and will be randomized to receive either an optimized diet alone or an optimized diet and perioperative ONS. Postoperative complications will be collected and registered until 60 days after surgery. The participants' nutritional status will be evaluated 60 days and 180 days after surgery.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Participants aged more than 18 years old.
  • Histological diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.
  • Participants scheduled for elective minimally invasive colorectal resection.
  • Participants with a preoperative MUST score equal to or below 2. Exclusion criteria
  • Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may interfere with the study procedures.
  • Emergent surgery.
  • Planned open surgery. Participants undergoing unplanned surgical conversion (from minimally invasive to open) will be withdrawn from the study.
  • Any concomitant surgery unrelated to the primitive colorectal cancer (for example, concomitant liver metastasis resection).
  • Participants with preoperative MUST score > 2.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding participants. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use a reliable contraceptive method. Otherwise, a pregnancy urine test must be performed at each study visit to exclude a potential pregnancy.

Treatment and study plan

Diet Optimization (DO)

Other

Dietary optimization will include a tailored diet to maintain or restore a good nutritional status, body composition (e.g. weight or lean mass gain if necessary), and macro/micronutrient intake in case of deficiencies detected during the nutritional screening. Participants will be instructed to follow the dietary indications throughout the study, with appropriate adjustments according to following nutritional assessments.

Oral Nutritional Supplement (ONS)

Dietary Supplement

ONS will consist of LH Blu® (Lionhealth Italia Srl). LH Blu® is categorized as a food for special medical purposes and is indicated for the treatment of malnourished patients. ONS will start 14 days before the planned intervention with a tailored dosage decided according to the malnutrition risk (low vs medium).

Primary outcomes

  1. Postoperative complications

    Time frame: 30 days from surgery

    The rate of postoperative complications occurring within 30 days from surgery

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative septic complications

    Time frame: 30 days from surgery

    The rate of postoperative septic complications occurring within 30 days from surgery. Septic complications are defined according to the criteria proposed by the International Sepsis Definitions Conference and include documented postoperative extra-intestinal infections- such as urinary tract infections and pneumonia-, intra-abdominal septic complications- such as anastomotic leaks, pelvic abscesses, and peritonitis-, surgical site infections, and systemic symptoms of abnormal inflammatory response- such as fever higher than 38°C or C-Reactive Protein (CRP) increase higher than 200 mg/dL for more than two consecutive days

  2. Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI)

    Time frame: 30 days from surgery

    The median Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) computed from all postoperative complications that occurred within 30 days from surgery. The CCI ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates the best outcome (no postoperative complications), and 100 indicates the worst outcome (postoperative complications leading to death).

  3. Length of hospital stay

    Time frame: 30 days from surgery

    The median length of hospital stay calculated in days from the day after surgery until the day of discharge

  4. Hospital readmission

    Time frame: 30 days from surgery

    The rate of hospital readmissions- including ward readmission and emergency room accesses- within 30 days from surgery

  5. Sarcopenia

    Time frame: Six months after surgery

    The proportion of participants with sarcopenia six months after surgery. Sarcopenia will be assessed from the Skeletal Muscle Index (SMI) computed from the abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scans collected at screening and 6 months after surgery. SMI less than 7.0 kg/m2 for men and less than 5.5 kg/m2 for women will be considered indicative of sarcopenia.

  6. Normal weight

    Time frame: 60 days after surgery

    The proportion of participants with normo-weight Body Mass Index (BMI) measures at 60 days after surgery. Normal BMI values ranges from 18.5 Kg/m2 and 24.9 Kg/m2.

  7. Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score

    Time frame: 60 days after surgery

    The median Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score collected 60 days after surgery. The MNA score ranges from 0 (worst possibile nutritional status) to 30 (best possible nutritional status).

  8. EuroQoL-5 Dimension- 5 Levels (EQ5D5L) score

    Time frame: 60 days after surgery

    The median EuroQoL-5 Dimension- 5 Levels (EQ5D5L) score collected 60 days after surgery. The EQ5D5L score ranges from 0 (worst possible perceived health) to 25 (best possible perceived health).

  9. Proctitis

    Time frame: Six months after surgery

    The proportion of participants with clinical signs of active proctitis six months after surgery. Active proctitis will be assessed through rigid or flexible sigmoidoscopy and will be defined by the presence of any of the following findings: friable mucosa with edema, oozing, or ulcerations; bleeding; wall thickening; pseudopolyps; strictures; stenosis; loss of normal curvature; necrosis; perforations; fistula. The severity of proctitis will be classified using the RTOG/EORTC grading system

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Annalisa Maroli, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

00390282247776

Stefano De Zanet, MS

CONTACT

[email protected]

00390282244623

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Istituto Clinico Humanitas

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Perioperative Nutritional Supplementation to Prevent Postoperative Complications and Improve Postoperative Outcomes After Colorectal Cancer Surgery: a Single-center Unblinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: NUTRICOLOR

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
May 20, 2026
Registry last updated
May 20, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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