TAS-102 with or without celecoxib for colorectal cancer patients with positive ctDNA after adjuvant chemotherapy

TAS-102 With or Without Celecoxib in ctDNA-defined Minimal Residual Disease in Colorectal Cancer After Completion of Adjuvant Chemotherapy

This will test whether six months of TAS-102, with or without the anti-inflammatory drug celecoxib, can clear circulating tumor DNA in colorectal cancer patients who finished adjuvant chemotherapy and have detectable ctDNA.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Houston, Texas)
• Trial ID: NCT05343013 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The trial enrolls patients with colorectal cancer who have completed curative-intent therapy and have minimal residual disease defined by a positive ctDNA (MRD) test, with MRD status confirmed by Signatera when needed. Participants receive six months of TAS-102, with some patients also receiving celecoxib per protocol, and ctDNA is measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Key outcomes include ctDNA clearance at 3 and 6 months, disease-free survival, overall survival, and safety/tolerability of TAS-102. Exploratory analyses will examine archival tumor and circulating immune and molecular markers to identify predictors of response or resistance.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with histologically confirmed stage II–IV colorectal cancer who had R0 resection, completed planned curative-intent therapy including at least three months of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, have no radiographic disease, and have a positive CLIA-confirmed ctDNA (MRD) result.

Not a fit: Patients with radiographically visible metastatic disease, negative ctDNA, inadequate organ or marrow function, or who have not completed the required adjuvant chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could clear minimal residual disease detected by ctDNA and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

How similar studies have performed: ctDNA-guided MRD strategies have shown promising early signals for identifying recurrence risk and guiding therapy, but applying TAS-102 with or without celecoxib for MRD is relatively novel and not yet proven.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Has histological confirmation of colorectal cancer
2. Received post-R0 resection of stages II, III, or IV colorectal cancer and has completed all planned curative intent therapies that must include ≥ 3 months of oxaliplatin containing chemotherapy
3. Has no definitive evidence of radiographic disease per assessment by investigators within 28 days (before or after) a positive ctDNA assay
4. Has minimal residual disease as defined by positive ctDNA assay (completed as standard-of-care at MD Anderson). Patients may be identified for enrollment with any Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified ctDNA assay for MRD. MRD status will be confirmed with the Signatera assay prior to initiation of therapy (unless the prior testing was also done with Signatera in which case this test would not require confirmation)
5. Has adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

   1. absolute neutrophil count: ≥1,000/mcL
   2. platelets: ≥100,000/mcL
   3. total bilirubin: ≤ institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
   4. AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT): ≤3 × institutional ULN
   5. Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN or creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/min. Creatinine clearance (Clcr) can either be measured in a 24-hour urine collection or estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault equation as follows: Clcr (mL/min) = \[(140 - age) x (weight in kg) ÷ \[72 x (serum creatinine in mg/dL)\] \[0.85 if female\]
6. Has ECOG performance status (PS) of 0 or 1
7. Is of age ≥ 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse-event data are currently available on the use of TAS-102 in patients, children \<18 years of age are excluded from this study.
8. Is able to understand and is willing to sign a written informed consent document.
9. Is willing to utilize contraception. Female subjects agree to use highly effective contraception combined with an additional barrier method (eg, diaphragm, with a spermicide) while on study and for 7 months after last dose of study drug, and the same criteria are applicable to male subjects if they have a partner of childbirth potential. Male subject agrees to use a condom and not donate sperm while in this study and for 7 months after the last treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has other concomitant active, invasive malignancies that may interfere with ctDNA analysis (known clonal hematopoesis of unknown potential allowed)
2. Has serum electrolytes, potassium, calcium, or magnesium levels outside of the normal laboratory reference range which are clinically significant in the investigator's judgment
3. Has significant concomitant health conditions including but not limited to severe autoimmune or cardiovascular disorders that may interfere with participation in the study per assessment by investigators
4. Has a persistent adverse event, except alopecia and neuropathy, greater than or equal to grade 2 of the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v. 5.0
5. Has another disease, metabolic disorder, physical examination anomaly, abnormal laboratory result, or any other condition that investigators suspect may (a) prohibit use of the investigational product, (b) affect interpretation of study results, or (c) put the patient at undue risk of harm
6. Has known hypersensitivity to the trial drugs or their excipients or is at risk of allergic of anaphylactic reaction to drug product according to the Investigator's judgement
7. Is pregnant or lactating
8. Is unable to take medication orally or has any other condition that investigators believe may affect absorption of the investigational product
9. Is receiving any other investigational agent.

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

• MD Anderson Cancer Center — Houston, Texas, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Alisha Bent, MD

Conditions Colorectal Cancer