Patel Lab

Mission:

Our core purpose is to perform high quality patient-centered clinical research to improve approaches to gastrointestinal cancer prevention and early detection. Our research program is dedicated to improving identification and management of patients at increased risk of gastrointestinal cancers based on their family history and genetics, with the goal of improving cancer risk reduction interventions in high-risk populations. Our research program also focuses on optimizing colonoscopy quality and utilization. Our overall goal is to promote effective cancer risk reduction strategies that will decrease the burden of cancer in our society.

To accomplish this mission, we conduct a wide array of clinical research studies supported by diverse partners, including the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes for Health (NIH), The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), The American Cancer Society, the Cancer League of Colorado, the University of Colorado Cancer Center and industry partners. We are dedicated to disseminating our findings to the public and the international scientific community through abstracts, publications, poster presentations, oral presentations and grants.

About Us:

Director:

Swati Patel MD, MS

Associate Professor of Medicine

Director, Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk & Prevention Center

University of Colorado Division of Gastroenterology

University of Colorado Cancer Center

Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Dr. Patel completed a Masters in Health Systems Administration from Union University and attended Albany Medical College for her medical degree. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Colorado. She is the Director of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic at the Anschutz Medical Center where she cares for patients at high risk for cancer based on their family history and genetics. She also is a Staff Physician at the Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Her core research is in (1) improving identification and management of patients at increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer based on family history and genetics and (2) optimizing colonoscopy training and quality. The overarching goal of this research is to decrease the burden of cancer in society. She also is a dedicated educator, with teaching responsibilities in the University of Colorado Department of Medicine (Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology training programs), the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and The University of Colorado School of Public Health.

In addition to her clinical, research and teaching roles, she is active in national and international organizations dedicated to cancer prevention. She was the 2022 President of the Collaborative Group of the Americas on Inherited Gastrointestinal Cancers with continued leadership in that organization. She serves on the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Steering Committee , an organization dedicated to successfully convening and engaging public, private, and civic organizations and individuals committed to colorectal cancer prevention and early detection. She sits on the United States Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, where she recently led the updated colorectal cancer screening guidelines, which now recommend decreasing the age to start screening from 50 to 45. She serves on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Colorectal Cancer Screening Panel and the Fight Colorectal Cancer Medical Advisory Board. She also mentors trainees at various stages including medical students, residents and gastroenterology fellows.

View published work here.

Research Staff:

Theresa Dunn, MS

Contact: Theresa.Dunn@va.gov

Samantha Guneratne, BA

Contact: Samantha.Guneratne@cuanschutz.edu

Elizabeth Magnan, BA

Email: Elizabeth.Magnan@cuanschutz.edu or Elizabeth.magnan@va.gov

Phone: 970-823-2191 or 303-724-4466

Research Studies:

Actively Enrolling:

Study Objective:
- The study is being conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for pathogenic genetic variants among patients with advanced colorectal polyps
Who is Eligible?
- Individuals 18+ years of age
- Undergone colonoscopy with at least one advanced colorectal polyp identified:
  - Any adenoma ≥ 1cm
  - Any adenoma with villous architecture
  - Any adenoma with high-grade dysplasia
What does the study entail?
- Eligible participants complete questionnaires about their medical and family history
- Participants receive free genetic counseling and clinical multi-gene panel genetic testing
- No in-person visits required
- For more information, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04160832

This study is supported by the American Cancer Society, the University of Colorado Cancer Center and the Cancer League of Colorado.

Study Objective:
- The study is being conducted to evaluate if the combination of trivalent adenovirus-5 (Tri-Ad5) vaccines and IL-15 superagonist N-803 reduces the incidence of colorectal neoplasms.
Who is Eligible?
- Individuals 18+ years of age
- Individuals with Lynch Syndrome defined by:
  - Mutation positive: MLH1, MSH2/EPCAM and MSH6 genotypes with prior history of ≥1 adenoma(s) and/or ≥1 advanced adenoma(s) and/or colon cancer(s) (but no active cancer for 6 months)
  - PMS2 genotype with prior history of colon cancer(s) (but no active cancer for 6 months)
What does the study entail?
- Eligible participants will receive 3-4 injections, four times, over a one-year period
- Participants will attend study appointments
- Participants will be asked to donate blood samples, complete a physical exam, and complete planned colonoscopies
- For more information, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05419011

This study is supported by the National Cancer Institute/ Division of Cancer Prevention.

Study Objective:
- The study is being conducted to examine colorectal cancer incidence in participants with 1-2 non-advanced adenomas at surveillance colonoscopy at 10 years compared to surveillance colonoscopy at 5 and 10 years.
Who is Eligible?
- Individuals 50-69 years of age
- Undergone colonoscopy with findings of 1-2 non-advanced colon polyps
- Are due for surveillance colonoscopy
What does the study entail?
- Participants receive a colonoscopy exam (either at 5 and 10 years OR 10 years)
- Participants will be asked to donate blood and stool samples
- Participants complete questionnaires yearly
- For more information, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05080673

This study is supported by the National Cancer Institute/ Division of Cancer Prevention.

Study Objective:
- The study is being conducted to determine how well Fecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT) works compared to colonoscopy in detecting colorectal cancer in older adults with a history of polyps.
Who is Eligible?
- Individuals 70 to 82 years of age
- Individuals with a history of colorectal polyps (without history of colorectal cancer or a genetic colon cancer syndrome: e.g. Lynch, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, or Serrated Polyposis Syndrome)
What does the study entail?
- Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either colonoscopy or yearly FIT
- Participants complete a yearly survey to up to 6 years
- For more information, visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05612347

This study is supported by the Patient-Centered Outcome Research Institute (PCORI).

This study is designed to understand the needs of Lynch Syndrome patients in navigating their cancer risk reduction care and how a mobile or digital health tool can help fill these needs. Participants will be interviewed in individual and group settings to understand their needs and then be invited to beta test a mobile application.

Upcoming Studies:

This is a multi-center study which will include individuals with Lynch Syndrome with the goals of (I) estimating the risk of prevalent and incident cancer among pathogenic variant (PV)/likely PV (LPV) carriers, (II) characterizing post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer (PCCRC) among PV/LPV carriers, and (III) evaluating risk factors for prevalent and incident colonic and extra-colonic neoplasia. This study will follow Lynch syndrome patients longitudinally and invite participants to be included in future research on understanding Lynch syndrome biology and interventions to prevent cancer.