Transforming Non-Immunogenic Colorectal Cancer into an Immunogenic Condition

METIMMOX-2: Metastatic pMMR/MSS Colorectal Cancer - Shaping Anti-Tumor Immunity by Oxaliplatin

This study is testing if a combination of chemotherapy and an immune treatment can help people with a specific type of advanced colorectal cancer respond better to treatment.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Akershus (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: nivolumab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone
• Locations: 3 sites (Trondheim, Trondelag and 2 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT05504252 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the potential of oxaliplatin-based therapy to convert metastatic colorectal cancer with proficient DNA mismatch repair (pMMR) and microsatellite stability (MSS) into an immunogenic disease. The study employs a single-arm design where patients receive two cycles of the Nordic FLOX regimen followed by two cycles of the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab. Patients will be assessed for radiologic response after the initial cycles, determining whether they continue with the treatment regimen or switch to standard care. The trial aims to evaluate progression-free survival and overall treatment efficacy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults with histologically verified pMMR/MSS colorectal adenocarcinoma who have measurable metastatic disease and meet specific health criteria.

Not a fit: Patients who have previously received systemic cytotoxic therapy for metastatic disease or those with poor performance status may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a new treatment option that enhances anti-tumor immunity in patients with a currently non-immunogenic form of colorectal cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with chemotherapy for various cancers, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient has histologically verified pMMR/MSS colorectal adenocarcinoma (also comprising the mucinous adenocarcinoma and signet-ring cell carcinoma entities).
* Patient is ambulatory with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
* Patient is at least 18 years of age.
* Patient has radiologically measurable metastatic disease.
* Patient has an infradiaphragmatic metastatic lesion that can be biopsied.
* Patient has not had previous systemic cytotoxic therapy for the metastatic disease, except for previous neoadjuvant treatment.
* Patient is eligible for the Nordic FLOX regimen when it would be the preferred treatment option for first-line therapy in routine practice.
* Patient has the following laboratory values, as measured in serum/plasma within 14 days prior to study entry, indicative of adequate organ function:

  * Hemoglobin at least 10.0 g/dL
  * Neutrophils at least 1.5 x10(9)/L (without current use of colony-stimulating factors).
  * Platelets at least 100 x10(9)/L. - C-reactive protein less than 60 mg/L
  * AST/ALT no higher than 2xULN when patient does not have metastatic disease in the liver or no higher than 5xULN when patient has metastatic disease in the liver. o Bilirubin no higher than 1.5xULN when patient does not have metastatic disease in the liver or no higher than 2xULN when patient has metastatic disease in the liver
  * Albumin no lower than 30 g/L. - INR within normal level
  * Creatinine no higher than 1.5xULN
* Woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of HCG) within 24 hours prior to the start of study drug
* WOCBP will use an adequate method to avoid pregnancy for a period of 26 weeks (which includes the required 30 days plus the time required for nivolumab to undergo five half-lives) after the last therapy dose
* Woman is not breastfeeding
* Male who is sexually active with WOCBP must agree to follow instructions for method(s) of contraception for a period of 26 weeks (which includes the required time to ensure duration of sperm turnover plus the time required for the investigational drugs to undergo five half-lives) after the last therapy dose
* Signed informed consent form and expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow-up must be obtained and documented according to International Conference on Harmonization - Good Clinical Practice and national/local regulations

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient has metastatic dMMR/MSI colorectal cancer.
* Patient has initially resectable metastatic disease for which neoadjuvant therapy is deemed superfluous.
* Patient has supradiaphragmatic metastatic disease as the sole site(s).
* Patient has untreated or symptomatic brain metastasis (patient must be symptom-free without the use of corticosteroids).
* Patient has experienced a period of less than 6 months since discontinuation of neoadjuvant or adjuvant oxaliplatincontaining chemotherapy.
* Patient is ineligible for full (100%) chemotherapy doses at first treatment cycle.
* Patient has partial or complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency.
* Patient has had radiation therapy against the only measurable lesion within 4 weeks of start of study treatment.
* Patient has a medical condition treated with anticoagulant medication that cannot be replaced by low molecular weight heparin or a direct oral anticoagulant during active study treatment.
* Patient has a nervous system disorder worse than CTCAE grade 1.
* Patient has any medical condition that will preclude him/her from immune checkpoint blockade therapy, such as:

  * Active or chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C. - Known history of human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency-related illnesses.
  * Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or medical condition requiring systemic steroids or other forms of immunosuppressive therapy.
  * Autoimmune disease that has required systemic therapy within the past 2 years.
  * Receipt of live attenuated vaccination within 30 days prior to study entry or within 30 days of receiving study therapy.
  * Active infection or chronic infection requiring chronic suppressive antibiotics.
  * Known history of previous diagnosis of tuberculosis.
* Patient with current or prior use of immunosuppressive medication within 28 days before the first dose of study therapy, with the exceptions of intranasal corticosteroids or systemic corticosteroids at physiological doses that do not exceed 10mg/day of prednisone or an equivalent corticosteroid.
* Patient has any medical condition or needs to use medication, as listed in the SmPC of each Investigational Medical Product (IMP), that will preclude him/her from receiving treatment with IMP, such as:

  * Pernicious anemia or anemias due to vitamin B12 deficiency (SmPC-listed contraindications for folinic acid).
  * A known complete absence of DPD activity.
  * Has been treated with brivudine, sorivudine, or their chemically related analogs, which are potent inhibitors of the enzyme DPD that degrades fluorouracil. Fluorouracil must not be taken within 4 weeks of treatment with brivudine, sorivudine, or their chemically related analogs.
  * Other SmPC-listed contraindications for the IMPs are covered by other exclusion criteria.
* Patient has undergone treatment with any IMP that may interfere with the study treatment within 4 weeks prior to first administration of study drug.
* Patient has known hypersensitivity to any of the study IMP components.
* Patient has history of other prior malignancy, with the exception of curatively treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, cervical cancer stage IB, stage I prostate cancer considered not necessary to treat, and another malignancy that was treated with curative intent more than 5 years ago and has not relapsed later.
* Patient has significant cardiac, pulmonary, or other medical illness that would limit activity of daily life or survival.
* Patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Patient has any other reason, in the opinion of Clinical Investigator, not to participate in the study.

Where this trial is running

Trondheim, Trondelag and 2 other locations

• St Olavs Hospital — Trondheim, Trondelag, Norway (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Akershus University Hospital — Lørenskog, Viken, Norway (Recruiting)
• Oslo University Hospital — Oslo, Viken, Norway (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Anne H Ree, MD, PhD

Conditions Colorectal Adenocarcinoma; Mucinous Adenocarcinoma; Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma; Immune checkpoint inhibitor; Oxaliplatin