The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery

Abstract Background Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) has become the standard surgical treatment for rectal cancers, despite being a technically challenging procedure due to the straight and rigid nature of the laparoscopic instrument within a narrow bony pelvis. A robotic system with mul...

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Main Authors: Kyeong Eui Kim, Sung Uk Bae, Seung Hyun Lee, Dae-Ro Lim, Heon-Kyun Ha, Jin Kim, Hyo Seon Ryu, Soo Yeon Park, Sung Il Kang, Gyung Mo Son, Soo Young Lee, Chang Hyun Kim, Kyung Ha Lee, Gi Won Ha, Hye Jin Kim, Woong Bae Ji, Woo Ram Kim, Sang Hee Kang, Nak Song Sung, Ji Hoon Kim, Taek-Gu Lee, Myung Jo Kim, Woon Kyung Jeong, Seong Kyu Baek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Trials
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08847-1
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author Kyeong Eui Kim
Sung Uk Bae
Seung Hyun Lee
Dae-Ro Lim
Heon-Kyun Ha
Jin Kim
Hyo Seon Ryu
Soo Yeon Park
Sung Il Kang
Gyung Mo Son
Soo Young Lee
Chang Hyun Kim
Kyung Ha Lee
Gi Won Ha
Hye Jin Kim
Woong Bae Ji
Woo Ram Kim
Sang Hee Kang
Nak Song Sung
Ji Hoon Kim
Taek-Gu Lee
Myung Jo Kim
Woon Kyung Jeong
Seong Kyu Baek
author_facet Kyeong Eui Kim
Sung Uk Bae
Seung Hyun Lee
Dae-Ro Lim
Heon-Kyun Ha
Jin Kim
Hyo Seon Ryu
Soo Yeon Park
Sung Il Kang
Gyung Mo Son
Soo Young Lee
Chang Hyun Kim
Kyung Ha Lee
Gi Won Ha
Hye Jin Kim
Woong Bae Ji
Woo Ram Kim
Sang Hee Kang
Nak Song Sung
Ji Hoon Kim
Taek-Gu Lee
Myung Jo Kim
Woon Kyung Jeong
Seong Kyu Baek
author_sort Kyeong Eui Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) has become the standard surgical treatment for rectal cancers, despite being a technically challenging procedure due to the straight and rigid nature of the laparoscopic instrument within a narrow bony pelvis. A robotic system with multi-joint instruments, three-dimensional vision, and improved ergonomics was introduced, however it is not yet cost-effective. Recently, several articulating laparoscopic instruments have been developed and introduced as substitutes for multi-joint robotic system instruments. The prospective study aims to demonstrate that the positive rate of circumferential resection margin following laparoscopic surgery with articulated laparoscopic instruments is non-inferior to that of robotic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer. Methods/design Patients with primary rectal cancer who are treated with low anterior resection using articulated laparoscopic instruments will be included in the study. Participating colorectal surgeons must use articulated laparoscopic instruments at least during TME. We hypothesize that the positive rate of circumferential resection margin after robotic surgery will be 6%, 3 based on the previous studies. A trial with 157 patients contributing to the primary outcome analysis would have 80% power to declare non-inferiority with a 5.2% non-inferiority margin, assuming a 10% dropout rate. To compare laparoscopic TME group and robotic TME group, we adjust for variables such as gender, T stage, N stage, sphincter saving status, and preoperative chemoradiation using propensity score matching. The primary end-point of this study is cicumferential resection margin after surgery. Discussion Based on this study, we hope to demonstrate the efficacy and viability of articulated laparoscopic instruments in the treatment of rectal cancer at a lower cost than robotic surgery. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service KCT0008896. Registered on 15 August 2023.
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spelling doaj-art-42a4be77d3e546d48e1dd90cb014359a2025-08-20T03:43:36ZengBMCTrials1745-62152025-07-012611710.1186/s13063-025-08847-1The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgeryKyeong Eui Kim0Sung Uk Bae1Seung Hyun Lee2Dae-Ro Lim3Heon-Kyun Ha4Jin Kim5Hyo Seon Ryu6Soo Yeon Park7Sung Il Kang8Gyung Mo Son9Soo Young Lee10Chang Hyun Kim11Kyung Ha Lee12Gi Won Ha13Hye Jin Kim14Woong Bae Ji15Woo Ram Kim16Sang Hee Kang17Nak Song Sung18Ji Hoon Kim19Taek-Gu Lee20Myung Jo Kim21Woon Kyung Jeong22Seong Kyu Baek23Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University and Dongsan Medical CenterDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University and Dongsan Medical CenterDepartment of Surgery, Kosin University College of MedicineDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Soonchunhyung University College of Medicine, Soonchunhyung Univerisity Bucheon HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Chung-Ang University HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Korea University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Korea University College of MedicineColorectal Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Kyungpook National UniversityDepartment of Surgery, Yeungnam University Medical Center, Yeungnam University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Pusan National University School of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical SchoolDepartment of Surgery, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital and Medical SchoolDepartment of Surgery, Chungnam National University College of MedicineResearch Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University HospitalColorectal Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Kyungpook National UniversityDivision of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Korea University Ansan HospitalDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Korea University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Konyang University HospitalDivision of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital, the Catholic University of KoreaDepartment of Surgery, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Chungbuk National University College of MedicineDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University and Dongsan Medical CenterDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, Keimyung University and Dongsan Medical CenterAbstract Background Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) has become the standard surgical treatment for rectal cancers, despite being a technically challenging procedure due to the straight and rigid nature of the laparoscopic instrument within a narrow bony pelvis. A robotic system with multi-joint instruments, three-dimensional vision, and improved ergonomics was introduced, however it is not yet cost-effective. Recently, several articulating laparoscopic instruments have been developed and introduced as substitutes for multi-joint robotic system instruments. The prospective study aims to demonstrate that the positive rate of circumferential resection margin following laparoscopic surgery with articulated laparoscopic instruments is non-inferior to that of robotic surgery in the treatment of rectal cancer. Methods/design Patients with primary rectal cancer who are treated with low anterior resection using articulated laparoscopic instruments will be included in the study. Participating colorectal surgeons must use articulated laparoscopic instruments at least during TME. We hypothesize that the positive rate of circumferential resection margin after robotic surgery will be 6%, 3 based on the previous studies. A trial with 157 patients contributing to the primary outcome analysis would have 80% power to declare non-inferiority with a 5.2% non-inferiority margin, assuming a 10% dropout rate. To compare laparoscopic TME group and robotic TME group, we adjust for variables such as gender, T stage, N stage, sphincter saving status, and preoperative chemoradiation using propensity score matching. The primary end-point of this study is cicumferential resection margin after surgery. Discussion Based on this study, we hope to demonstrate the efficacy and viability of articulated laparoscopic instruments in the treatment of rectal cancer at a lower cost than robotic surgery. Trial registration Clinical Research Information Service KCT0008896. Registered on 15 August 2023.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08847-1Rectal neoplasmsLaparoscopyColorectal surgeryTreatment outcomeSurgical instruments
spellingShingle Kyeong Eui Kim
Sung Uk Bae
Seung Hyun Lee
Dae-Ro Lim
Heon-Kyun Ha
Jin Kim
Hyo Seon Ryu
Soo Yeon Park
Sung Il Kang
Gyung Mo Son
Soo Young Lee
Chang Hyun Kim
Kyung Ha Lee
Gi Won Ha
Hye Jin Kim
Woong Bae Ji
Woo Ram Kim
Sang Hee Kang
Nak Song Sung
Ji Hoon Kim
Taek-Gu Lee
Myung Jo Kim
Woon Kyung Jeong
Seong Kyu Baek
The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
Trials
Rectal neoplasms
Laparoscopy
Colorectal surgery
Treatment outcome
Surgical instruments
title The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
title_full The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
title_fullStr The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
title_full_unstemmed The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
title_short The articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (ATOME trial): a single-arm, prospective trial with pre-specified comparison to robotic surgery
title_sort articulated laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer atome trial a single arm prospective trial with pre specified comparison to robotic surgery
topic Rectal neoplasms
Laparoscopy
Colorectal surgery
Treatment outcome
Surgical instruments
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-025-08847-1
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