Phase II/III study of circulating tumor DNA as a predictive biomarker in adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage II colon cancer: NRG-GI005 (COBRA).

Abstract

TPS4121 Background: There are currently no validated predictive biomarkers for stage II resected colon cancer (CC) after adjuvant chemotherapy. However, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) that is shed into the bloodstream represents a highly specific and sensitive approach for identifying microscopic or residual tumor cells. For patients (pts) with CC, the detection of ctDNA is associated with persistent disease after resection and may outperform traditional clinical and pathological features as a prognostic factor to assess risk for recurrence. We hypothesize that for pts whose stage II colon cancer has been resected and who have no traditional high-risk features, a positive ctDNA status may identify those who will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Methods: In this prospective phase II/III clinical trial, pts (N=1,408) with resected stage II CC without traditional high-risk features and whom the evaluating oncologist deems suitable for no adjuvant chemotherapy will be randomized 1:1 into 2 arms: standard-of-care/observation (Arm A), or prospective testing for ctDNA (Arm B). Postoperative blood will be analyzed for ctDNA with the GuardantHealth LUNAR panel, covering CC-relevant mutations and CC-specific methylation profiling. Pts in Arm B with ctDNA detected will be treated with 6 months of adjuvant (FOLFOX) chemotherapy. For all pts in Arm A, ctDNA status will be analyzed retrospectively at the time of endpoint analysis. The primary endpoints are clearance of ctDNA with adjuvant chemotherapy (phase II) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) for “ctDNA-detected” pts treated with or without adjuvant chemotherapy (phase III). Secondary endpoints will include time-to-event outcomes (OS, RFS, TTR) by ctDNA marker status and treatment, prevalence of detectable ctDNA in stage II CC, and rates of compliance with assigned intervention. Archived normal and matched tumor and blood samples will be collected for exploratory correlative research. The trial is actively accruing towards the phase II endpoint across all US and Canadian cooperative groups. Support: U10-CA-180868, -180822; UG1CA-189867; GuardantHealth. Clinical trial information: NCT04068103 .