Comparing intermittent and continuous treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

Randomized Phase 3 Study of Intermittent or Continuous Panitumumab Plus FOLFIRI for First-line Treatment of Patients With Unresectable Left Sided RAS/B-RAF Wild-type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (IMPROVE-2 Trial)

This study is testing whether taking a cancer treatment in breaks instead of continuously can work just as well for people with a specific type of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 3
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 500 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 100 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute, Naples (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: panitumumab, chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Naples)
• Trial ID: NCT06509126 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase 3 clinical trial investigates the effectiveness of intermittent versus continuous administration of Panitumumab combined with FOLFIRI chemotherapy in patients with left-sided RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. The study aims to determine if intermittent treatment can achieve a Time to Treatment Failure (TTF) that is not inferior to the standard continuous regimen. A total of 500 patients will be enrolled and randomized to receive either treatment approach, with correlative studies on tissue and blood samples to identify potential biomarkers of efficacy. The trial will assess treatment outcomes and the evolutionary dynamics of tumors in response to therapy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with untreated, unresectable left-sided RAS/BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer or have resectable disease may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a more effective and personalized treatment strategy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have explored similar treatment regimens, but this specific approach of intermittent therapy in this patient population is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent to study procedures and to correlative studies.
2. Histologically proven left sided mCRC.
3. RAS/BRAF wild-type and pMMR and/or MSS status assessed at local centers according a validated method defined by EMA
4. Disease judged unresectable by the local multidisciplinary team
5. Patient candidate to receive Induction treatment with FOLFIRI plus panitumumab as per standard clinical practice
6. No prior treatments (chemotherapy, radiation or surgery) for mCRC. Surgery for primary CRC tumor before starting treatment is allowed.
7. Either sex aged ≥ 18
8. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status ≤ 1 at study entry.
9. Imaging-documented measurable disease, according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.
10. Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) activity is mandatory. Additional analysis of polymorphisms uridine diphosphate-glycosyltransferase 1 (UGT1A1) enzyme is recommended but not mandatory
11. Adequate bone marrow hematological function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L and platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L and hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL.
12. Adequate liver function: total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 2 (in case of biliary stent) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 5 X ULN.
13. Adequate renal function: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min in males and ≥50 mL/min in females (calculated according to Cockroft-Gault formula).
14. Electrolytes (i.e. magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium) within laboratory normal range

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior malignancy within five years. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
2. Prior chemotherapy or any other medical treatment for mCRC (previous adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed if terminated \> 6 months previously).
3. Major surgical intervention within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
4. Pregnancy and breast-feeding.
5. Any brain metastases.
6. Complete deficiency of activity of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) or known UGT1A1 homozygosity.
7. Required dose reduction of 5-fluorouracil in the past for toxicity.
8. Evidence of severe or uncontrolled systemic disease or any concurrent condition which in the investigator's opinion makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study, or which would jeopardize compliance with the protocol, or would interfere with the results of the study.
9. History of poor co-operation, non-compliance with medical treatment, unreliability or any condition that may impair the patient's understanding of the Informed consent form.
10. Participation in any interventional drug or medical device study within 30 days prior to treatment start.
11. Sexually active males and females (of childbearing potential) unwilling to practice contraception (barrier contraceptive measure or oral contraception) during the study and until 6 months after the last trial treatment.
12. History of interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis.
13. History of corneal perforation or ulceration keratitis

Where this trial is running

Naples

• Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Napoli - IRCCS - Fondazione G. Pascale — Naples, Italy (Recruiting)

Conditions Colorectal Cancer Stage IV; Metastatic colorectal cancer; Left sided; RAS and BRAF wild type; Intermittent therapy; Liquid biopsy; Panitumumab