QUASAR (stands for QUick and Simple And Reliable). UKCCCR randomised study of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon and rectal cancer

ISRCTN ISRCTN82375386
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN82375386
ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00005586
Secondary identifying numbers G9436870/G9521239
Submission date
06/04/2000
Registration date
06/04/2000
Last edited
17/10/2018
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Cancer
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English Summary

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Richard Gray
Scientific

University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
University of Birmingham
Park Grange
1 Somerset Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2RR
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)121 415 9100
Email r.gray@bham.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Not specified
Study typeNot Specified
Scientific titleQUASAR (stands for QUick and Simple And Reliable). UKCCCR randomised study of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon and rectal cancer
Study acronymQUASAR
Study hypothesisReliable assessment, among patients who have undergone apparently curative surgery for colorectal cancer, of the balance of benefits and risks of adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients for whom there is substantial uncertainty whether or not they should receive chemotherapy are randomised between chemotherapy versus open control. Patients considered to have a clear indication for chemotherapy were randomised (until 1997) between different chemotherapy regimens. Of those who receive adjuvant chemotherapy, the four treatment regimens were:
1. 5-FU (370 mg/m^2) + 175 mg L-folinic acid + levamisole
2. 5-FU (370 mg/m^2) + 175 mg L-folinic acid + placebo
3. 5-FU (370 mg/m^2) + 25 mg L-folinic acid + levamisole
4. 5-FU (370 mg/m^2) + 25 mg L-folinic acid + placebo
given either daily for five days every four weeks for a total of six cycles, or once-weekly for thirty weeks. Since 1997 patients allocated chemotherapy all receive arm four (without placebo).
Ethics approval(s)Not provided at time of registration
ConditionColorectal Cancer
InterventionChemotherapy versus open control
Intervention typeDrug
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
PhaseNot Specified
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)Chemotherapy: Fluorouracil, L-folinic acid and levamisole
Primary outcome measureSurvival, recurrence, cost-effectiveness, quality of life.
Secondary outcome measuresNot provided at time of registration
Overall study start date01/05/1994
Overall study end date31/10/2003

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupNot Specified
SexNot Specified
Target number of participants5000
Participant inclusion criteriaPatients who have had apparently curative surgery for Duke's A, B or C colorectal cancer within the past three months are eligible for inclusion in QUASAR.
Participant exclusion criteriaThere are no definite exclusion criteria but patients must be considered fit by their clinicians to undergo six months chemotherapy.
Recruitment start date01/05/1994
Recruitment end date31/10/2003

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University of Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
Birmingham
B15 2RR
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Research council

20 Park Crescent
London
W1B 1AL
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7636 5422
Email clinical.trial@headoffice.mrc.ac.uk
Website http://www.mrc.ac.uk

Funders

Funder type

Research council

Medical Research Council
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
Medical Research Council (United Kingdom), UK Medical Research Council, MRC
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Plain English results No Yes
Results article results 06/05/2000 Yes No
Results article results 01/08/2000 Yes No
Results article results 15/12/2007 Yes No
Results article results 01/04/2011 Yes No

Editorial Notes

17/10/2018: Cancer Research UK lay results summary link added to Results (plain English)