About the project
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major burden in western countries. The disease develops from precursor lesions during a long time-interval. Colonoscopy can detect and remove CRC precursor lesions and may thus be effective for CRC prevention.
Read more about colorectal cancer screening.
Objectives
The primary study aims are CRC incidence and CRC mortality after 10 to 15 years of follow-up. The aim of the trial is to address the benefits and harms of colonoscopy screening.
Outcomes
The NordICC trials reported the first primary endpoint results in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2022 (Link is presented after publishing in October)
Background
NordICC is a multicentre, randomised trial in Norway, Poland, Sweden and the Netherlands. 95,000 individuals, age 55-64 years, were randomly drawn from the population registries in the participating countries. One third is randomized and invited for once-only colonoscopy. Participation was 42%
At the screening examination, all detected lesions were removed whenever possible. The remaining two thirds of randomized individuals (control group) are not offered any screening examination (care as usual).
The primary study aims are CRC incidence and CRC mortality after 10 to 15 years of follow-up. In an intention-to-screen approach, a risk reduction of CRC mortality of 25% in the colonoscopy screening group compared to the control group is expected, estimating 50% compliance in the screening group.
The NordICC trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with registration no: NCT00883792.
Financing
Norges Forskningsråd, Nordisk Cancer Union, Kreftforeningen Helse Sør-Øst, Dr. Falk Pharma; National Center for Research and Development of Poland, Polish–Norwegian Research Program Pol-Nor, Polish Foundation of Gastroenterology, Dutch Ministry of Health and Health Care Prevention, Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Center for Translational Molecular Medicine, Swedish Cancer Foundation, Regional forskningsfond i Uppsala–Örebro regionen
Cooperation
- Sørlandet Hospital, Kristiansand
- Sørlandet Hospital, Arendal
- Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston
- Marie Curie Sklodowska, Warsaw
- Karolinska Instituttet, Stockholm
- Sloan Kettering Memorial, New York City
- Uppsala Universitetssykehus, Uppsala
- Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam
Start - Finish
2009-2029
The NordICC study started in Poland and The Netherlands in May 2009. The first screening centre in Norway opened in Kristiansand in January 2011, followed by Arendal in May 2012. Seven centres in Sweden started in April 2013. The clinical part (colonoscopies) was finished in June 2014. The effect of colonoscopy on CRC incidence and mortality will be examined through national registries at 10 to 15-years of follow-up.
