Role of Diet and Faecal Microbiota Transplantation following Bowel Cancer Surgery

Interventions: Following bowel resection due to cancer, up to 80% patients will experience variable and unpredictable bowel function and symptoms termed as Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). The exact mechanism of LARS remains unclear and currently there is no standard treatment.
This program of research will investigate if Faecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) can improve the bowel function and patient’s quality of life (QoL).
Phase 1- Dose-finding-study.
Group 1: FMT at one year post Ultra Low Anterior Resection (ULAR)/LAR via lower route (colonoscopy). Dose includes 4 x BiomeBoostTM FMT syringes, containing a total of 50 g of faecal matter as the active ingredient.
Group 2: FMT at one year post ULAR/LAR via lower route (colonoscopy). Dose includes 6 x BiomeBoostTM FMT syringes, containing a total of 75 g of faecal matter as the active ingredient.
FMT dose will be administered at one time, by the specialist conducting the colonoscopy (gastroenterologist/surgeon). The procedure of delivering FMT will only add 5 minutes to the routine colonoscopy being performed.
Adherence will be monitored by:
1. Dietetic phone follow up How well did you follow the intervention in a non judgmental format.
Primary outcome(s): Bowel function assessed via Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) questionnaire [At baseline (week 0) and week 4 post intervention commencement.];General quality of life (QoL) assessed via Cancer Quality of Life-general post cancer questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) [At baseline (week 0) and week 4 post intervention commencement.];Colorectal specific quality of life (QoL) assessed via Colorectal specific QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30) questionnaire [At baseline (week 0) and week 4 post intervention commencement.]
Study Design: Purpose: Treatment; Allocation: Randomised controlled trial; Masking: Open (masking not used);Assignment: Parallel;Type of endpoint: Efficacy