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Bowel Cancer Clinical Trials UK

Find recruiting clinical trials for bowel cancer (colorectal cancer) in the UK — including immunotherapy for MSI-H tumours, KRAS G12C inhibitors, novel antibody-drug conjugates, and AI-assisted screening innovations. See your treatment pathway and where trials fit in.

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Bowel Cancer Treatment Pathway

See where clinical trials fit into your treatment journey

Early Stage (Stage I–II)

Cancer confined to the bowel wall

Standard: Surgical resection, possible adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk stage II (capecitabine, FOLFOX)

Locally Advanced (Stage III)

Lymph node involvement, higher risk of recurrence

Standard: Surgery + adjuvant FOLFOX or CAPOX for 3–6 months, radiotherapy (rectal cancer-specific)

Metastatic (Stage IV) — First Line

Distant spread — most commonly to liver or lung

Standard: FOLFOX or FOLFIRI + bevacizumab (or cetuximab/panitumumab for RAS wild-type), pembrolizumab for MSI-H

Later Line / Refractory

Progression after multiple lines of therapy

Standard: TAS-102, regorafenib, rechallenge with prior agents; KRAS G12C inhibitors for biomarker-selected patients

About Bowel Cancer Trial Areas

Immunotherapy for MSI-H Bowel Cancer

Pembrolizumab has transformed treatment for mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H) bowel cancer. Trials now test combinations with nivolumab + ipilimumab, and checkpoint inhibitors in earlier-stage MSI-H disease.

KRAS G12C Inhibitors

Sotorasib and adagrasib are oral targeted therapies for the KRAS G12C mutation (present in ~4% of bowel cancers). Trials combine these with EGFR inhibitors to overcome resistance pathways.

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Novel ADCs targeting CEACAM5, HER2, and Trop-2 are being tested in biomarker-enriched bowel cancer trials. Enfortumab vedotin and trastuzumab deruxtecan are among the candidates in UK studies.

Liver Metastasis & Perioperative Care

Trials for patients with liver-only metastases include perioperative chemotherapy regimens, radioembolisation (SIRT), stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), and strategies to increase resectability.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The terms are used interchangeably. Bowel cancer (or colorectal cancer) includes both colon cancer and rectal cancer. They are often grouped together because their treatments are similar, though rectal cancer may involve radiotherapy more frequently.

Yes. MSI-H tumours (about 15% of bowel cancers) respond particularly well to immunotherapy. Pembrolizumab is now NICE-approved for first-line, and trials are testing combinations with other checkpoint inhibitors and novel agents.

Yes. Trials for later-line treatment include targeted therapies for RAS/BRAF wild-type tumours (cetuximab, panitumumab combinations), TAS-102 (trifluridine/tipiracil), regorafenib, and novel antibody-drug conjugates.

The NHS offers FIT (faecal immunochemical test) screening every 2 years for adults aged 60-74. Trials are testing improved screening methods, including multi-cancer early detection blood tests and AI-assisted colonoscopy.

How to Join a Bowel Cancer Clinical Trial

1

Search

Use our search above to find trials matching your condition and location. Review eligibility criteria carefully.

2

Discuss

Talk to your GP or oncologist about any trials you are interested in. They can help determine if a trial is appropriate for you.

3

Contact

Reach out to the trial team directly using the contact information on the ClinicalTrials.gov listing.

4

Enrol

If you meet the criteria and decide to participate, you will go through informed consent and begin the trial process.

🗺️ Related Pathway: Oncology Pathway · Colorectal Cancer · Pancreatic Cancer