The ELECLA trial: A multicentre randomised control trial on outcomes of neoadjuvant treatment on locally advanced colon cancer

Background Colon cancer (CC) is a public health concern with increasing incidence in younger populations. Treatment for locally advanced CC (LACC) involves oncological surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) to reduce recurrence and improve overall survival (OS). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a novel approach for the treatment of LACC, and research is underway to explore its potential benefit in terms of survival. This trial will assess the efficacy of NAC in LACC. Methods This is a multicentre randomised, parallel‐group, open label controlled clinical trial. Participants will be selected based on homogenous inclusion criteria and randomly assigned to two treatment groups: NAC, surgery, and AC or surgery followed by AC. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the 2‐year progression‐free survival (PFS), with secondary outcomes including 5‐year PFS, 2‐ and 5‐year OS, toxicity, radiological and pathological response, morbidity, and mortality. Discussion The results of this study will determine whether NAC induces a clinical and histological tumour response in patients with CCLA and if this treatment sequence improves survival without increasing morbidity and mortality. Registration number NCT04188158.