Robotic surgery for gallbladder cancer treatment

Robotic-assisted Contra Open Resection for Suspected or Confirmed Gallbladder Cancer - An International, Multi-centre, Single Blinded, Randomized Controlled Superiority Trial

Not applicable Interventional Karolinska University Hospital · NCT06246448

This study is testing whether robotic surgery for gallbladder cancer helps patients recover faster and have fewer complications compared to traditional open surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment94 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorKarolinska University Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Stockholm)
Trial IDNCT06246448 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The Robocop trial is an international, multi-centre, single-blinded, randomized controlled trial comparing robotic-assisted radical cholecystectomy to open resection for patients with suspected or confirmed gallbladder cancer. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either surgical approach within an enhanced recovery setting. The primary goal is to evaluate the time to functional recovery, while secondary outcomes include hospital stay duration, resection margins, lymph node retrieval, postoperative complications, quality of life, and associated costs.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients with radiologically suspected or confirmed incidental gallbladder cancer who are fit for radical cholecystectomy.

Not a fit: Patients with previous extensive upper abdominal surgery, pregnancy, or intraoperative findings requiring different surgical approaches will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to faster recovery times and improved outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for gallbladder cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with robotic-assisted surgeries, suggesting potential benefits, although this specific approach is being tested for the first time in this context.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient with radiologically suspected or confirmed (≥T1b) incidental gallbladder cancer after cholecystectomy with an indication of radical cholecystectomy, without the need for resection of extrahepatic bile ducts, as decided at a multidisciplinary team conference.
* Patient sufficiently fit to undergo radical cholecystectomy according to surgeon and anaesthesiologist.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Previous extensive surgery in the upper abdomen (for example open liver surgery)
* Pregnancy
* Intraoperative findings of dissemination (patient is then excluded after randomization)
* Intraoperative findings of the need to perform resection of extrahepatic bile ducts (patient is then excluded after randomization).
* Intraoperative findings leading to a simple cholecystectomy only (patient is then excluded after randomization)

Where this trial is running

Stockholm

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Gall Bladder Cancer
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.