Metronidazole as Preoperative Therapy in CRC / FusoMetro-001

The proposed proof-of concept trial aims at determining the effectiveness of metronidazole in decreasing the Fusobacterium nucleatum load in tissues and possibly on its detrimental effects on tumor cells and tumor microenvironment.

Inclusion Criteria:Written informed consent according to ICH/GCP regulations before registration.Age ≥ 18 years oldUntreated, primary colorectal adenocarcinoma (> 15 cm from the anal verge)Colonoscopy with endoscopic biopsy for disease confirmation and correlative studies.Candidates for surgical resection prior to administration of any therapy.Exclusion Criteria:Insufficient material on the tissue biopsy to be left in the archives of the Cantonal Institute of Pathology for further evaluations/analysesKnown prior history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or other nitroimidazole derivativesOral or parenteral antibiotic therapy within the six weeks prior to enrolmentEmergency surgery (planned within less than 14 days), where no opportunity to administer preoperative oral antibiotics existsOther malignant disease within 5 years prior to study enrollment, except basocellular or squamous skin cancer and carcinoma in situ cervices uteriAny previous anticancer treatment prior resectionWomen who are pregnant or breast feedingFertile women or men who do not use safe contraception during the study periodOther clinically significant concomitant disease states (e.g., renal failure, hepatic dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, etc.),Inability to consent and follow the procedures of the study e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant,Participation in another study with investigational drug within the 30 days preceding and during the present study,Any other serious underlying medical, psychiatric, psychological, familial or geographical condition, which in the judgment of the investigator may interfere with the planned staging, treatment, affect patient compliance or place the patient at high risk from treatment-related complications