Blood test could catch colon Cancer's return before it starts

NCT ID NCT03803553

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looks at whether a simple blood test can find tiny bits of cancer DNA left after surgery and chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer. If the test is positive, patients may get extra treatment with chemotherapy or immunotherapy to try to wipe out any remaining cancer cells. The goal is to see if this early, targeted approach can prevent the cancer from coming back and improve survival.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: FOLFIRI chemotherapy, Nivolumab, and other targeted therapies
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could help catch and treat hidden cancer cells early, potentially preventing the cancer from coming back after initial treatment.
What could go wrong: This is a large Phase 3 trial, but it's still testing whether early treatment based on blood tests truly improves outcomes. The added chemotherapy can have significant side effects, and not all patients may benefit.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for METASTATIC COLON CANCER are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

colon carcinoma colonic neoplasm malignant colon neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

METASTATIC COLON CANCER STAGE III COLON CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital
RECRUITING

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Weill Cornell Medical College
RECRUITING

New York, New York, 10065, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.