5-FU and leucovorin plus regorafenib versus trifluridine‑tipiracil with bevacizumab for third-line metastatic colorectal cancer

Randomized Phase II Trial of 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin (5FU/LV) in Combination With Regorafenib in Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

This trial tests whether combining 5-FU and leucovorin with regorafenib works as well as trifluridine‑tipiracil plus bevacizumab for people with metastatic colorectal cancer who have already had two prior lines of treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 57 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The Methodist Hospital Research Institute (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: bevacizumab
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT06887218 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a randomized, non-inferiority Phase 2 trial that assigns patients 2:1 to receive either 5-FU/leucovorin with regorafenib or trifluridine‑tipiracil plus bevacizumab in the third-line metastatic colorectal cancer setting. The experimental arm gives 5-FU/leucovorin every two weeks with regorafenib started at 80–120 mg/day and escalated weekly to a maximum of 120 mg/day on a 3-weeks-on/1-week-off schedule, with treatment continued until progression for up to 12 cycles. The control arm receives oral trifluridine‑tipiracil combined with bevacizumab according to standard dosing schedules. Eligible patients must have failed second-line therapy, have measurable disease, ECOG 0–2, and adequate organ function, and the trial will monitor efficacy and safety outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (≥18) with histologically or cytologically confirmed metastatic colorectal cancer who have progressed after second-line therapy, have at least one measurable lesion, ECOG 0–2, and adequate bone marrow, liver, and renal function are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients with poor organ function, a life expectancy under six months, or who cannot tolerate chemotherapy or targeted therapy are unlikely to benefit from the regimens tested here.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide an additional non-inferior third-line treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Regorafenib and trifluridine‑tipiracil have individually shown benefit in refractory metastatic CRC, but the combination of 5-FU/leucovorin with regorafenib as a non-inferiority third-line option is less well-studied.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female ≥18 years of age.
2. Histopathological or cytologically confirmed metastatic CRC.
3. Failed second-line therapy for metastatic disease.
4. A minimum of one measurable disease per RECISTv1.1.
5. ECOG performance status of 0-2.
6. Life expectancy ≥6 months per treating physician or principal investigator.
7. Subjects must be able to understand and be willing to sign the written informed consent form. A signed informed consent form must be appropriately obtained prior to the conduct of any trial-specific procedure.
8. Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function as assessed by the following laboratory requirements:

   a. Total bilirubin ≤ 10 x the upper limits of normal (ULN) b. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate amino-transferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with liver involvement of their cancer) c. Alkaline phosphatase limit ≤ 2.5 x ULN (≤ 5 x ULN for subjects with liver involvement of their cancer) d. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x the ULN e. International normalized ratio (INR)/ Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN. (Subjects who are prophylactically treated with an agent such as warfarin or heparin will be allowed to participate provided that no prior evidence of underlying abnormality in coagulation parameters exists. Close monitoring of at least weekly evaluations will be performed until INR/PTT is stable based on a measurement that is pre-dose as defined by the local standard of care.

   f. Platelet count ≥100000 /mm3, hemoglobin (Hb) ≥9 g/dL, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/mm3. Blood transfusion to meet the inclusion criteria will not be allowed.
9. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of study drug. Post-menopausal women (defined as no menses for at least 1 year) and surgically sterilized women are not required to undergo a pregnancy test. The definition of adequate contraception will be based on the judgment of the investigator.
10. Subjects (men and women) of childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception beginning at the signing of the ICF until at least 2 months after the last dose of study drug as outlined in Appendices 12.2
11. The definition of adequate contraception will be based on the judgment of the principal investigator or a designated associate.
12. Subject must be able to swallow and retain oral medication.

Exclusion Criteria:

* 1\. Hematology laboratory values of:

  1. Absolute neutrophil count ≤1000 cells/mm3
  2. Platelets ≤70,000 cells/mm3
  3. Hemoglobin ≤9 g/dL
  4. White blood count ≤3000 cells/mm3. 2. Hepatic laboratory values of aspartate transaminase or alanine aminotransferase:

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  1. \>5 × upper limits of normal (ULN) if the documented history of hepatic metastases; or
  2. \>2.5 × ULN if no liver metastases are present. 3. Serum albumin \<5.8 g/dL. 4. Total bilirubin \>10 mg/dL. 5. Prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) \>1.5 × ULN. Note: Patients receiving therapeutic doses of anticoagulant therapy may be considered eligible if PT and INR are within the acceptable institutional therapeutic limits.

     6\. Serum creatinine or serum urea \>1.5 × ULN. 7. Estimated glomerular filtration rate \<50 mL/min. 8. Positive pregnancy test, pregnant, or breastfeeding (female patients only). 9. Any other clinically significant laboratory abnormality that would compromise patient safety or the outcome of the study.

     10\. Any clinically significant and/or uncontrolled cardiac-related abnormality that would compromise patient safety or the outcome of the study including, but not limited to:

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  1. Arrhythmia
  2. Bradycardia
  3. Tachycardia
  4. Symptomatic valvular disease
  5. Symptomatic congestive heart failure is classified by New York Heart Association as Class III or IV
  6. Unstable angina pectoris. 11. Myocardial infarction within the past 6 months from the consent date. 12. Active bleeding diathesis. 13. Current complaints of persistent constipation or history of chronic constipation, bowel obstruction, or fecaloma within the past 6 months from the consent date.

     14\. Known history and/or uncontrolled hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis C antibody, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 or HIV-2 from the consent date.

     15\. Active or recent (within 3 years) non-colorectal cancer malignancies, except for low-risk, cured cancers (e.g., squamous or basal cell carcinomas, in situ carcinomas, or others deemed non-significant by the investigator).

     16\. Receipt of live, attenuated vaccine (e.g., intranasal influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella) or close contact with someone who has received a live, attenuated vaccine within the past 1 month. Note: Influenza vaccine will be allowed if administered \>21 days.

     17\. Receipt of any investigation agent or study treatment within the past 30 days.

     18\. Ongoing infection \> Grade 2 NCI-CTCAE V5.0. 19. Symptomatic metastatic brain or meningeal tumors. 20. The presence of a non-healing wound, non-healing ulcer, or bone fracture. 21. Major surgical procedure or significant traumatic injury within 28 days before start of study medication 22. Renal failure that requires hemo-or peritoneal dialysis.

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  1. Previous assignment to treatment during this study. Subjects permanently withdrawn from study participation will not be allowed to re-enter study.

     23\. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic pressure \>140 mm Hg or diastolic pressure \> 90 mm Hg \[NCI-CTCAE V5.0\] on repeated measurement) despite optimal medical management.

     24\. Any hemorrhage or bleeding event ≥ NCI CTCAE Grade 3 within 4 weeks prior to start of study medication.

     25\. Subjects with thrombotic, embolic, venous, or arterial events, such as cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks) deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months of start of study treatment within 6 months of informed consent.

     26\. Patients with any previously untreated or concurrent cancer that is distinct in primary site or histology except cervical cancer in-situ, treated ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast, curatively treated nonmelanoma skin carcinoma, noninvasive aerodigestive neoplasms, or superficial bladder tumor. Subjects surviving a cancer that was curatively treated and without evidence of disease for more than 3 years before registration are allowed. All cancer treatments must be completed at least 3 years prior to registration.

     27\. Pleural effusion or ascites that causes respiratory compromise (≥ NCI-CTCAE V5.0 Grade 2 dyspnea).

     28\. Known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs, study drug classes, or excipients of the formulations given during the course of this trial.

     29\. Any condition which, in the investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for trial participation.

     30\. Substance abuse, medical, psychological or social conditions that may interfere with the subject's participation in the study or evaluation of the study results.

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, Pharm D — The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
• Study coordinator: Safiya Joseph

Conditions Metastatic Colorectal Cancer