Clin2Atlas
AtlasCancersOther neoplasms

Benign and in situ intestinal neoplasms

4Curable or preventable in mostAI-generated

Most intestinal polyps and early lesions are curable or preventable.AI-generated

Burden-over-time charts — how many people this disease affects and whether that number is rising or falling — are coming to this page. The treatability read, milestones, and live trial pipeline below are current.

Milestones

dot size = significance
199020002010202020251996 — Arcitumomab approved (FDA)1998 — Capecitabine approved (FDA)1998 — Celecoxib approved (FDA)1998 — Votumumab approved (FDA)2004 — Cetuximab approved (FDA)2004 — Bevacizumab approved (FDA)2006 — Panitumumab approved (FDA)2008 — Levoleucovorin approved (FDA)2011 — Methylene blue cation approved (FDA)2011 — Aflibercept approved (FDA)2011 — Ipilimumab approved (FDA)2012 — Regorafenib approved (FDA)2015 — Tipiracil approved (FDA)2015 — Nivolumab approved (FDA)2018 — Encorafenib approved (FDA)2020 — Tucatinib approved (FDA)2023 — Fruquintinib approved (FDA)
1996: Drug approval — Arcitumomab approved (FDA). 1998: Drug approval — Capecitabine approved (FDA). 1998: Drug approval — Celecoxib approved (FDA). 1998: Drug approval — Votumumab approved (FDA). 2004: Drug approval — Cetuximab approved (FDA). 2004: Drug approval — Bevacizumab approved (FDA). 2006: Drug approval — Panitumumab approved (FDA). 2008: Drug approval — Levoleucovorin approved (FDA). 2011: Drug approval — Methylene blue cation approved (FDA). 2011: Drug approval — Aflibercept approved (FDA). 2011: Drug approval — Ipilimumab approved (FDA). 2012: Drug approval — Regorafenib approved (FDA). 2015: Drug approval — Tipiracil approved (FDA). 2015: Drug approval — Nivolumab approved (FDA). 2018: Drug approval — Encorafenib approved (FDA). 2020: Drug approval — Tucatinib approved (FDA). 2023: Drug approval — Fruquintinib approved (FDA)

What's being tested now

2000: 2 trials started2001: 1 trials started2002: 2 trials started2003: 3 trials started2004: 1 trials started2005: 2 trials started2006: 1 trials started2007: 3 trials started2008: 4 trials started2009: 2 trials started2010: 3 trials started2011: 2 trials started2012: 8 trials started2013: 15 trials started2014: 14 trials started2015: 13 trials started2016: 20 trials started2017: 24 trials started2018: 34 trials started2019: 58 trials started2020: 85 trials started2021: 122 trials started2022: 167 trials started2023: 285 trials started2024: 415 trials started2025: 507 trials started2026: 473 trials started2000201020202026507

Trials started per year, stacked by phase (darker = later phase). Source: ClinicalTrials.gov via Clin2, which tracks studies recruiting in recent years — early years undercount.

See all 2150 active Adenocarcinoma of the Rectum trials on Clin2 →

Where we are

AI-generated

Benign and in situ intestinal neoplasms are precancerous polyps or very early growths. In most typical presentations, this condition is curable or preventable: endoscopic polypectomy can reliably remove the lesion before it becomes invasive, and screening colonoscopy can stop progression altogether. Where screening programs are in place, deaths from invasive colorectal cancer have been declining over the long term. A major milestone in this effort was the approval of celecoxib, which has a role in reducing polyp formation in certain high-risk patients. Ongoing research, with more than 2,000 active trials, continues to refine detection and prevention strategies. Access to screening still varies, but the medical capability itself is well established.

Can these benign polyps turn into cancer if left alone?
Yes, some in situ or benign intestinal lesions can progress to invasive cancer over time. That is why screening and removal are important. Most are caught and cured before that happens.
How are benign and in situ intestinal neoplasms usually treated?
The standard treatment is endoscopic removal, often during a colonoscopy. This is usually a cure for the lesion itself. In some cases, surveillance colonoscopies are done later to check for new polyps.
What is the outlook after such a lesion is removed?
Outlook is generally excellent. Once a benign or in situ lesion is completely removed, the risk of it becoming cancer is essentially eliminated. Follow-up schedules depend on the number, size, and pathology of the polyps.
Are there any medications that help prevent these growths?
Some medicines, such as celecoxib, have been shown to reduce polyp formation in certain high-risk conditions like familial adenomatous polyposis. They are not a substitute for screening and are used selectively under medical guidance.
What does current research focus on?
Research is looking at better ways to detect polyps earlier, including improved imaging and blood tests, and at preventing polyps from forming in the first place. Hundreds of trials are studying new diagnostic tools and preventive strategies.

Related

Myelodysplastic, myeloproliferative, and other hematopoietic neoplasmsBenign and in situ cervical and uterine neoplasmsOther benign and in situ neoplasms

Burden estimates: IHME Global Burden of Disease Study. Drug indications: ChEMBL (CC BY-SA). Trial data: ClinicalTrials.gov via Clin2. Velocity, acceleration, and turning points are computed by Clin2 — how this page is made. Treatability describes what medicine can do, not what is available everywhere. This page describes populations, not people, and is not medical advice.