First-line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Research Articles

Comparative Safety and Effectiveness of Bevacizumab Biosimilars to Originator for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Ontario has publicly funded biosimilar bevacizumab for first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) since 2019. Clinical trials demonstrate comparable efficacy and safety of bevacizumab biosimilars to originator bevacizumab. The objective of this study was to assess real-world safety and effectiveness of the implementation of bevacizumab biosimilars compared with originator bevacizumab in patients with mCRC. This was a population-based, retrospective study comparing Ontario patients starting treatment with bevacizumab biosimilars between August 12, 2019, and March 31, 2021, and starting treatment with originator bevacizumab between July 2, 2008, and August 11, 2019. Safety outcomes included death within 30 days of the last dose received, any hospitalization, direct hospitalization, and hospitalization resulting from bevacizumab-related toxicity, chemotherapy-related toxicity, and febrile neutropenia. Event rates were assessed using negative binomial and logistic regression. The effectiveness outcome was overall survival, calculated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression. A subgroup analysis compared safety and effectiveness outcomes between patients on bevacizumab biosimilar products and matched comparators. We identified 8,996 patients who initiated first-line treatment of bevacizumab for mCRC. Accounting for duration of follow-up, no significant differences were observed in the rate of hospitalization between treatment groups. No differences in overall survival (log-rank P>.05) or hazard ratios (propensity score-matched hazard ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92-1.16) were observed in the crude and propensity score-matched cohorts. Subgroup analysis demonstrated similar safety and effectiveness patterns. The demonstrated similarity in safety and effectiveness between bevacizumab biosimilars and originator bevacizumab provides further support for the use of and confidence in biosimilar products.

Efficacy and quality of life for FOLFOX/bevacizumab +/− irinotecan in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer—final results of the AIO CHARTA trial

BackgroundFOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab has demonstrated benefits for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. However, challenges arise in its clinical implementation due to expected side effects and a lack of stratification criteria.MethodsThe AIO “CHARTA” trial randomised mCRC patients into clinical Group 1 (potentially resectable), 2 (unresectable/risk of rapid progression), or 3 (asymptomatic). They received FOLFOX/bevacizumab +/− irinotecan. The primary endpoint was the 9-month progression-free survival rate (PFSR@9). Secondary endpoints included efficacy in stratified groups, QoL, PFS, OS, ORR, secondary resection rate, and toxicity.ResultsThe addition of irinotecan to FOLFOX/bevacizumab increased PFSR@9 from 56 to 67%, meeting the primary endpoint. The objective response rate was 61% vs. 69% (P = 0.21) and median PFS was 10.3 vs. 12 months (HR 0.83; P = 0.17). The PFS was (11.4 vs. 12.9 months; HR 0.83; P = 0.46) in potentially resectable patients, with a secondary resection rate of 37% vs. 51%. Moreover, Group 3 (asymptomatic) patients had a PFS of 11.1 vs. 16.1 months (HR 0.6; P = 0.14). The addition of irinotecan did not diminish QoL.ConclusionThe CHARTA trial, along with other studies, confirms the efficacy and tolerability of FOLFOXIRI/bevacizumab as a first-line treatment for mCRC. Importantly, clinical stratification may lead to its implementation.Trial registrationThe trial was registered as NCT01321957.

MODUL cohort 2: an adaptable, randomized, signal-seeking trial of fluoropyrimidine plus bevacizumab with or without atezolizumab maintenance therapy for BRAFwt metastatic colorectal cancer

BackgroundMODUL is an adaptable, signal-seeking trial designed to test novel agents in predefined patient subgroups in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).Patients and methodsPatients with measurable, unresectable, previously untreated mCRC received induction with ≤8 cycles of FOLFOX + bevacizumab followed by randomization to maintenance treatment comprising control [fluoropyrimidine (FP)/bevacizumab: 5-fluorouracil 1600-2400 mg/m2 46-h intravenous (i.v.) infusion day 1 q2 weeks plus leucovorin 400 mg/m2 2-h infusion i.v. day 1 q2 weeks or capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 b.i.d. orally days 1-14 every 21 days; bevacizumab 5 mg/kg 15-30-min i.v. infusion q2 weeks] or experimental treatment in one of four biomarker-driven cohorts. In patients with BRAF wild-type (BRAFwt) tumors (cohort 2), experimental treatment was FP/bevacizumab + atezolizumab (800 mg 60-min i.v. infusion q2 weeks). Primary efficacy endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS; intent-to-treat population). Enrollment is complete; efficacy and safety findings from cohort 2 are presented.ResultsFour hundred and forty-five patients with BRAFwt mCRC were randomized (2 : 1) to maintenance in cohort 2. At a median follow-up of 10.5 months, PFS outcome hypothesis was not met [hazard ratio (HR) 0.92; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.72-1.17; P = 0.48]; overall survival (OS) was immature. At a median follow-up of 20.3 months (2-year survival follow-up), PFS benefit was also not met (HR 0.95; 95% CI 0.77-1.18; P = 0.666); OS HR with nearly two-thirds of patients with events was 0.83 (95% CI 0.65-1.05; P = 0.117). No new safety signals were identified. The most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) for experimental versus control arms were hypertension (6.1% versus 4.2%), diarrhea (3.1% versus 2.1%), and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (1.0% versus 2.5%). Four patients experienced TEAEs with fatal outcome, two were study treatment-related: hepatic failure (experimental arm) and large intestine perforation (control arm; bevacizumab-related).ConclusionsAdding atezolizumab to FP/bevacizumab as first-line maintenance treatment after FOLFOX + bevacizumab induction for BRAFwt mCRC did not improve efficacy outcomes.

QoL analysis: A randomized phase 3 study of sequential versus combination treatment in first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer—The C-cubed study.

102 Background: The C-cubed (C3) study demonstrated a sequential approach start from fluoropyrimidines (FP) plus bevacizumab (Bmab) followed by oxaliplatin (OX) adding significantly improved a median Treatment failure of strategy (TFS) for a combination approach start from FP+OX+Bmab [15.2 months vs. 7.6 months, HR, 0.475; 95% CI, 0.362 to 0.623; p < 0.0001] in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this congress, we focus on the quality of life (QOL) assessments as a pre-planned analysis. (Study information: UMIN000015405). Methods: The C3 study was a randomized phase III study which evaluated the time to discontinuation of OX-containing therapy (sequential approach [Capecitabine/5-FU (FP)+Bmab followed by OX-FP+Bmab] vs. combination approach [OX-FP+Bmab]. The primary endpoint was TFS and secondary endpoints were ORR, OS, PFS, Safety and QoL. QOL assessments included European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality-of-life questionnaire for cancer (QLQ-C30) (EORTC QLQ C-30), EuroQol 5D 5L (EQ5D) and the Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) in both arm as a pre-planned analysis. Each questionnaire was collected at the time of enrolment, 6, 12, 18 months and end of treatment. QOL scores were compared using a mixed-effects models for repeated measures (MMRM). Results: A total 292 patients participated in QoL part (arm A: n =148; arm B: n =144). The returned questionnaire sheets were 292 (reply rate: 97%), 206 (68%), 199 (65%), 61 (20%) at baseline, 6, 12, 18 months, respectively. Sequential approach was statistically improved than combination approach as follows: Physical functioning (p<0.001), Cognitive functioning (p=0.012), Social functioning (p=0.0004), and Fatigue (p=0.013) in EORTC QLQ C-30. In addition, at 6 months (after which attrition in the combination arm was more than 50%) after randomization, the mean change rate from baseline of EQ5D score in the sequential approach versus combination approach were: –1.91 (SD 27.57) versus –9.62 (29.60). In contract, PNQ sensory score showed that sequential approach was not statistically improved for combination approach (0.22 [SD: 0.89] vs. 0.61 [SD: 0.95], p=0.115). Conclusions: The further clarification of patients’ characteristics are needed, but this sequential approach can be advocated as a valuable treatment option in first-line mCRC for current guideline based on these QoLs and main efficacy data.

455P Concordance of baseline RAS mutational status (ms) between tissue and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and association with overall response rate (ORR) in first-line (1L) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (pts): PERSEIDA study (cohort 2) (NCT02792478)

Tumor-tissue biopsy is the standard of care (SOC) to assess RAS & BRAF ms in mCRC pts. However, the analysis of circulating cfDNA has the advantage of evidencing genetic tumor heterogeneity. We explored the occurrence of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF sequence variants (sv) using cfDNA in 1L SOC RAS wt mCRC pts. The concordance of RAS ms between tissue and cfDNA, and the association of cfDNA RAS ms and ORR were also explored.

Real-world treatment outcomes from nationwide ONCO-colon Turkey registry in RAS wi̇ld-type patients treated with biologics first-line metastatic colorectal cancer.

e15561 Background: Efficacy of anti-angiogenic and anti-EGFR agents has been demonstrated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Real-world evidence is especially important to detect the findings of patients outside of clinical trials. It complements together with clinical trials. However, there are a few studies that evaluated these treatments with biologics in the real-world setting. Recognizing the change that has occurred over the years will also shed light on future approaches. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the real-world data of patients with RAS-wild type mCRC. Methods: Medical records from 28 centers were collected for patients diagnosed with RAS wild-type mCRC between January 2016 and April 2019 and were included into the study. Histopathological, molecular and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. The treatment duration, response rate, progression-free survival and safety results were determined. Also, changes over the years were compared. Patients were compared according to the first-line biological treatments as anti-EGFR group (Group A and B) (panitumumab and cetuximab) and anti-VEGF group (group C). Results: Patients with KRAS mutant type were 43,6% and 6.1% patients were NRAS mutant type. A total of 1064 patients with documented RAS wild-type status were evaluated. 33%, 37% and 30% of all first line patients were treated with regimen including panitumumab, cetuximab and anti-VEGF, respectively. The median follow-up time was 24 (1-59) months. Median age was 61 (17-88) years. Thirty-five percent of the patients were female. Twenty percent of the patients had a right-sided colon tumor. Patients received median 6 cycles of treatment. Also, responded patients received median 6 cycles of treatment as maintenance treatment with biologics plus fluoropyrimidine. Overall response rate was 46,4%, 41,9% and 41,5% in A, B and C group respectively (p = 0,170). The median OS was 26, 27, and 23 months in A, B and C group respectively (p = 0.044). The median PFS of the patients in first-line setting that received panitumumab, cetuximab and bevacizumab were 11.6 (SE:0,6; 95% CI: 10.4-12.7), 11.0 (SE:0,5; 95% CI: 9.9-12.0), and 9.6 (SE:0,4; 95% CI: 8.8-10.4) months respectively (p = 0.012). In univariate analysis, female gender (p = 0.030), left sided tumors(p = 0.001), ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1 (p = 0.001), normal CEA level at initial diagnosis(p = 0.001) and treatment with anti-EGFR agents(p = 0.016) were found as favorable factors. PS 0-1 and normal CEA level at initial diagnosis were found as independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis (p = 0.049, p = 0.031 respectively). Conclusions: This analysis of real-world data confirms the comparable efficacy of anti-EGFR agents in RAS-wild type mCRC. However, anti-EGFR treatment provides PFS and OS advantage when compared with anti-VEGF treatment in these patients.

Maintenance treatment with fluoropyrimidine plus bevacizumab versus fluoropyrimidine alone after induction chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer: The BEVAMAINT - PRODIGE 71 - (FFCD 1710) phase III study

BackgroundMaintenance treatments with fluoropyrimidine alone or combined with bevacizumab after induction chemotherapy are two standard options in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, no trial has compared these two maintenance regimens. MethodsBEVAMAINT is a multicenter, open-label, randomized phase III trial comparing fluoropyrimidine alone or plus bevacizumab as maintenance treatment after induction polychemotherapy in mCRC. The primary endpoint is the time-to-treatment failure (TTF), calculated from date of randomization to first radiological progression, death, start of a new chemotherapy regimen (different from induction or maintenance chemotherapy) or end of maintenance treatment without introduction of further chemotherapy. We expect a 2-month TTF improvement from 6 months in the monotherapy arm to 8 months in the combination arm (hazard ratio [HR], 0.75). Based on a two-sided α risk of 5% and a power of 80%, using Schoenfeld method, 379 events are required (planned enrolment, 400 patients). Patients with mCRC, whose disease is measurable according to RECIST 1.1 criteria and controlled (objective response or stable disease) – but remains unresectable – after 4 to 6 months of induction polychemotherapy (doublet or triplet chemotherapy with or without anti-EGFR or bevacizumab), and who have recovered from limiting adverse events of induction polychemotherapy are eligible for randomization. Randomization is stratified according to center, response to induction chemotherapy (objective response vs stable disease), ECOG performance status (0-1 vs 2), maintenance fluoropyrimidine (5-fluorouracil vs capecitabine) and primary tumor status (resected vs not). Capecitabine or bolus and infusional 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid (simplified LV5FU2 regimen) are both accepted for maintenance chemotherapy, at investigator's discretion. Clinical evaluation, tumor imaging, carcinoembryonic antigen and circulating tumor DNA dosages are planned at enrolment and every 9 weeks. The maintenance treatment will be discontinued in the event of unbearable toxicity, progression or patient refusal. After maintenance discontinuation, reintroduction of induction polychemotherapy is recommended; otherwise a second-line treatment is started. The enrolment has begun in January 2020.

Clinical utility of comprehensive circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing compared to standard-of-care (SoC) tissue testing in first-line (1L) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (pts).

15 Background: Accurate genotyping is mandatory for the management of mCRC pts. Tissue-based testing is still the SoC; however, is not available for all pts. and may be exhausted by serial testing, resulting in incomplete genotyping. We aimed to establish the validity of comprehensive non-invasive ctDNA testing in 1L mCRC pts for whom SoC tissue genotyping was available. Methods: 1L mCRC pts were tested with a comprehensive ctDNA test (Guardant360), a RAS ctDNA test (OncoBeam), and SoC tissue testing at the time of diagnosis. The primary endpoint was NCCN guideline biomarker discovery rate ( KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutations, ERBB2 amplification, and microsatellite instability). Results: In 91 evaluable pts, the biomarker discovery rate was 54.9% (50/91) for SoC tissue testing, 59.3% (54/91) for comprehensive ctDNA testing ( p= 0.0318 for non-inferiority vs. SoC), and 42.9% (39/91) for RAS ctDNA testing (inferiority not rejected vs. SoC). Both comprehensive and RAS ctDNA testing showed high positive agreement (85%, 44/52, and 86%, 31/36) and negative agreement (96%, 268/279, and 93%, 93/100) relative to SoC tissue testing at the gene level. Expanding genotyping beyond KRAS codon 12/13 mutations increased biomarker discovery rate by 56% for tissue testing (50/91 vs. 32/91, McNemar’s p< 0.0001) and by 64% for comprehensive ctDNA (54/91 vs. 33/91, McNemar’s p< 0.0001). Turnaround time was significantly shorter for comprehensive ctDNA testing vs. SoC tissue testing (mean 11.7 days vs. 23.0 days, paired T-test p= 0.0002). On retrospective analysis, 92% of biomarker-positive pts would have been identified at 2 weeks using the comprehensive ctDNA test for initial genotyping with reflex to tissue for biomarker-negative pts, whereas initial use of SoC tissue testing would have identified only 85% of positive pts at 4 weeks (Fisher’s exact p< 0.0001). Conclusions: As previously reported for lung cancer, comprehensive ctDNA testing in 1L mCRC identifies at least as many biomarker-positive pts as SoC tissue genotyping with high concordance to tissue and in half the turnaround time.

Mutational Analysis of Patients With Colorectal Cancer in CALGB/SWOG 80405 Identifies New Roles of Microsatellite Instability and Tumor Mutational Burden for Patient Outcome.

CALGB/SWOG 80405 was a randomized phase III trial that found no statistically significant difference in overall survival (OS) in patients with first-line metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy plus either bevacizumab or cetuximab. Primary tumor DNA from 843 patients has been used to discover genetic markers of OS. Gene mutations were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Microsatellite status was determined by genotyping of microsatellites. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was determined by next-generation sequencing. Cox proportional hazard models were used, with adjusting factors. Interaction of molecular alterations with either the bevacizumab or the cetuximab arms was tested. Patients with high TMB in their tumors had longer OS than did patients with low TMB (hazard ratio [HR], 0.73 [95% CI, 0.57 to 0.95]; P = .02). In patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, longer OS was observed in the bevacizumab arm than in the cetuximab arm (HR, 0.13 [95% CI, 0.06 to 0.30]; interaction P < .001 for interaction between microsatellite status and the two arms). Patients with BRAF mutant tumors had shorter OS than did patients with wild-type (WT) tumors (HR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.49 to 2.71]; P < .001). Patients with extended RAS mutant tumors had shorter OS than did patients with WT tumors (HR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.84]; P < .001). Patients with triple-negative tumors (WT for NRAS/KRAS/BRAF) had a median OS of 35.9 months (95% CI, 33.0 to 38.8 months) versus 22.2 months (95% CI, 19.6 to 24.4 months ) in patients with at least one mutated gene in their tumors (P < .001). In patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated in first line, low TMB, and BRAF and RAS mutations are negative prognostic factors. Patients with MSI-H tumors benefited more from bevacizumab than from cetuximab, and studies to confirm this effect of MSI-H are warranted.

Open-label phase II/III study of nivolumab plus standard of care versus standard of care for first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: Checkmate-9X8.

TPS718 Background: 5-FU-containing regimens with oxaliplatin or irinotecan and a biologic agent such as the VEGF inhibitor bevacizumab (BEV) are standard-of-care (SOC) options for the treatment of first-line (1L) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the objective response rate (ORR) with these regimens is 38%, and median progression-free survival (PFS) and median overall survival (OS) are 9.4 months and 21.3 months, respectively (Saltz et al. JCO 2007). Thus, there is a need for therapies that will provide durable clinical responses and improved survival. mCRC tumors represent classic “cold” tumors characterized by low expression of inflammatory and immune signatures. Emerging evidence suggests that there may be subtypes of mCRC that could benefit from synergistic immunogenic stimuli with immunotherapy agents combined with other compounds. The immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (NIVO) enhances antitumor T-cell activity through the inhibition of the programmed death-1 receptor. Chemotherapy and BEV may have potential synergistic immune-stimulatory effect on the tumor and its microenvironment. Therefore, combining NIVO with SOC may enhance the antitumor immune response and improve clinical activity in 1L mCRC. The international, multicenter, open-label phase 2/3 CheckMate-9X8 (NCT03414983) trial will evaluate efficacy and safety of the combination of NIVO+SOC, compared with SOC alone, in previously untreated patients with mCRC. Methods: An estimated 180 patients aged ≥ 18 years with histologically confirmed mCRC, no prior therapy for mCRC, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, and an adequate tissue sample, will be randomized to receive either NIVO+SOC or SOC alone. Patients who have had prior treatment with a checkpoint inhibitor; have autoimmune, cardiovascular, or hepatic disease; or test positive for hepatitis B or C (indicating detectable virus) will be excluded. The primary endpoint is PFS assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) using RECIST v1.1. Secondary endpoints include ORR, disease control rate, duration of response, and time to response, all by BICR; OS; and safety. Clinical trial information: NCT03414983.

483P - A biomarker study to validate predictors for clinical outcome of cetuximab based chemotherapy in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients: JACCRO CC-05/06AR and FIRE-3

483P - A biomarker study to validate predictors for clinical outcome of cetuximab based chemotherapy in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients: JACCRO CC-05/06AR and FIRE-3

Early metabolic response in sequential FDG-PET/CT under cetuximab is a predictive marker for clinical response in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer patients: results of the phase II REMOTUX trial

BackgroundTo assess the predictive value of early metabolic response (ΔSUV) after short-term treatment with first-line cetuximab in patients (pts) with RAS-wt metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).MethodsIn this prospective phase II study, RAS-wt mCRC pts received a single-agent cetuximab run-in therapy of 2 weeks. ΔSUV was assessed with FDG-PET/CT on days 0 and 14. Early clinical response (ECR) was evaluated with CT on day 56 after treatment with FOLFIRI-cetuximab. Primary endpoint was the predictive significance of ΔSUV for ECR. Secondary endpoints were PFS (progression free survival), OS and the influence of ΔSUV on survival.ResultsForty pts were enroled and 33 pts were evaluable for the primary endpoint. The CT response rate was 57.6%. For responders, ΔSUV was significantly higher (p = 0.0092). A significant association of ΔSUV with ECR was found (p = 0.02). Median PFS was 11.7 months and median OS was 33.5 months with a 1-year survival rate of 87.9%. ΔSUV was found to significantly impact the hazard for OS (p = 0.045).ConclusionsWe demonstrate that cetuximab induces metabolic responses in mCRC pts. The study endpoint was met with the ΔSUV discriminating between responders and non-responders. However, these data should be validated in larger patient cohorts.

Randomized Phase II Trial of Parsatuzumab (Anti-EGFL7) or Placebo in Combination with FOLFOX and Bevacizumab for First-Line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

LESSONS LEARNED These negative phase II results for parsatuzumab highlight the challenges of developing an agent intended to enhance the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibition without the benefit of validated pharmacodynamic biomarkers or strong predictive biomarker hypotheses.Any further clinical development of anti-EGFL7 is likely to require new mechanistic insights and biomarker development for antiangiogenic agents. BACKGROUND EGFL7 (epidermal growth factor-like domain 7) is a tumor-enriched vascular extracellular matrix protein that supports endothelial cell survival. This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy of parsatuzumab (also known as MEGF0444A), a humanized anti-EGFL7 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in combination with modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) (folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) bevacizumab in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS One-hundred twenty-seven patients were randomly assigned to parsatuzumab, 400 mg, or placebo, in combination with mFOLFOX6 plus bevacizumab, 5 mg/kg. Treatment cycles were repeated every 2 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity for a maximum of 24 months, with the exception of oxaliplatin, which was administered for up to 8 cycles. RESULTS The progression-free survival (PFS) hazard ratio was 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-1.93; p = .548). The median PFS was 12 months for the experimental arm versus 11.9 months for the control arm. The hazard ratio for overall survival was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.46-2.1; p = .943). The overall response rate was 59% in the parsatuzumab arm and 64% in the placebo arm. The adverse event profile was similar in both arms. CONCLUSIONS There was no evidence of efficacy for the addition of parsatuzumab to the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy for first-line mCRC. The Oncologist 2017;22:375-e30.

Prognostic value of baseline seric Syndecan-1 in initially unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients: a simple biological score.

In first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), baseline prognostic factors allowing death risk and treatment strategy stratification are lacking. Syndecan-1 (CD138) soluble form was never described as a prognostic biomarker in mCRC. We investigated its additional prognostic value for overall survival (OS). mCRC patients with unresectable disease at diagnosis were treated with bevacizumab-based chemotherapy in two independent prospective clinical trials (development set: n = 126, validation set: n = 51, study NCT00489697 and study NCT00544011, respectively). Serums were collected at baseline for CD138 measurement. OS determinants were assessed and, based on the final multivariate model, a prognostic score was proposed. Two independent OS prognostic factors were identified: Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) high level (p = 0.0066) and log-CD138 high level (p = 0.0190). The determination of CD138 binary information (cutoff: 75 ng/mL) allowed the assessment of a biological prognostic score with CD138 and LDH values, identifying three risk groups for death (median OS= 38.9, 30.1 and 19.8 months for the low, intermediate and high risk groups, respectively; p < 0.0001). This score had a good discrimination ability (C-index = 0.63). These results were externally confirmed in the validation set. Our study provides robust evidence in favor of the additional baseline soluble CD138 prognostic value for OS, in mCRC patients. A simple biological scoring system is proposed including LDH and CD138 binary status values.

Effects of the leucovorin shortage: Pilot study investigating cost, efficacy, and toxicity comparison of low fixed-dose versus body surface area-adjusted leucovorin dosing in patients with resectable colon or metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose As a result of the leucovorin shortage, we switched from BSA-adjusted to low fixed-dose leucovorin in patients with colon cancer receiving fluorouracil-containing therapy. Methods A retrospective, pilot study of adults receiving intravenous leucovorin as part of a fluorouracil-containing treatment was conducted including individuals with stage II or III colon or newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer. One low fixed-dose (leucovorin 50 mg) patient was matched by the investigator to one BSA-adjusted (leucovorin 200-500 mg/m2/dose) patient on disease stage and age. The objectives were to compare cost of alternative dosing strategies as well as efficacy and adverse event rates. Only patients being treated in the first-line metastatic colorectal cancer setting were included in the efficacy analysis. Results Fifty-eight patients were included. Leucovorin cost was reduced by 7- to 14-fold, and we were able to conserve a total of 1580-3400 doses of leucovorin by changing to fixed-dose (estimated from 200 mg/m2 or 400 mg/m2 dosing strategies, respectively). No statistically significant differences in progression-free survival ( p = 0.254), overall survival ( p = 0.923), or complications resulted. Conclusion Our decision to reduce the dose of leucovorin allowed us to conserve supply and control cost. The small sample size did not allow us to detect differences in efficacy or adverse event rates, and thus a larger study would be required to confirm our findings that efficacy was not compromised nor adverse effects greater.

Phase II Trial of Target-guided Personalized Chemotherapy in First-line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of personalizing treatment of patients with advanced untreated colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients with untreated metastatic CRC, performance status 0-1, and candidates for systemic chemotherapy were eligible. Tumor tissues were analyzed for KRAS, BRAF, and PI3K mutations and expression of topoisomerase-1 (Topo-1), excision repair cross-complementing gene 1 (ERCC1), thymidylate synthase (TS), and thymidine phosphorylase (TP). Patients with Topo-1 expression received irinotecan, whereas patients with negative Topo-1 and ERCC1 expression received oxaliplatin. Otherwise, patients received physician's choice of treatment. If TS was positive, no fluoropyrimidine was administered and if negative, 5-flurorouracil if TP was negative, or capecitabine if TP was positive. KRAS-mutated patients were treated with bevacizumab, whereas KRAS-native received cetuximab. The primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival (PFS). A total of 74 patients were enrolled and 67 received personalized treatment including irinotecan (n=27), oxaliplatin (n=16), FOLFIRI (n=12), and FOLFOX (n=12). Thirty-eight patients received cetuximab and 29 bevacizumab. With a median follow-up time of 18.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4-36), the overall median PFS was 8.3 months (95% CI, 6.9-9.7), representing a 12-month PFS rate of 36.5% (95% CI, 25-48). Overall clinical benefit, including response rate and disease stabilization, was 86% (95% CI, 73%-97%). The overall median survival was 21 months (95% CI, 11-40). Real-time target-guided personalized first-line treatment of patients with advanced CRC is feasible but, with the approached used, did not result in a clear improvement in PFS to warrant phase III testing.

A Review of Clinical Studies and Practical Guide for the Administration of Triplet Chemotherapy Regimens with Bevacizumab in First-line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide. A significant proportion of patients presents with unresectable metastatic disease or develops metachronous metastases following surgical resection of the primary tumor. The prognosis of the disease has improved over the past two decades, with extended multimodality treatment options and the development of increasingly intensified chemotherapy regimens that now typically include targeted biologics. A recent advance in therapy is a treatment regimen composed of three chemotherapeutic agents (i.e., triplet chemotherapy: 5-fluorouracil [5-FU]/leucovorin [LV], oxaliplatin, and irinotecan; FOLFOXIRI) in combination with the vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor bevacizumab. This regimen has been shown to elicit significantly improved objective response rates and median progression-free survival compared with 5-FU/LV and irinotecan in combination with bevacizumab. However, triplet chemotherapy has been associated with increased rates of chemotherapy-related adverse events, and treatment-emergent adverse events should be properly managed to minimize treatment interruption or discontinuation. We present herein a review of clinical studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of FOLFOXIRI with bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer, and propose a practical guide for the management of adverse events associated with the regimen.

A phase II trial of mFOLFOX-bevacizumab (bev) followed by single-agent axitinib (ax) as maintenance therapy for patients (pts) with first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

e14673 Background: Maintenance therapy is commonly used in the first-line treatment of mCRC. Maintenance therapy options include fluorouracil plus bev and bev single agent. Ax is an oral, potent, a...

Anti-epidermal or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor as first-line metastatic colorectal cancer in modified Glasgow prognostic score 2' patients

BackgroundIn metastatic colorectal cancer, the modified Glasgow prognostic score (mGPS) has been approved as an independent prognostic indicator of survival. No data existed on poor prognosis patients treated with molecular-targeted agents.MethodsFrom January 2007 to February 2012, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and poor predictive survival score (mGPS = 2), treated with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in addition to an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anti-vascular epidermal growth factor (VEGF) therapy, were included to assess the interest of targeted therapy within mGPS = 2' patients.ResultsA total of 27 mGPS = 2' patients were included and received a 5-fluorouracil-based systemic chemotherapy in addition to an anti-EGFR treatment (cetuximab; n = 18) or an anti-VEGF treatment (bevacizumab; n = 9). Median follow-up was 12.1 months (interquartile range 4.9–22). Patients were Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 1, 2, and 3 in 66% (n = 18), 26% (n = 7), and 8% (n = 2), respectively. Comparing anti-EGFR and anti-VEGF groups, median progression-free survival was 3.9 and 15.4 months, respectively, and was significantly different (P = 0.046). Conversely, the median overall survival was not significantly different between the two groups (P = 0.15).ConclusionOur study confirmed the poor survival of patients with mGPS = 2 despite the use of targeted therapy and identified the superiority of an anti-VEGF treatment in progression-free survival, without a significant benefit in the overall survival compared with the anti-EGFR therapy. Our results deserved confirmation by a prospective clinical trial.

Prognostic Value of Angiopoietin-2 for Death Risk Stratification in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Carcinoma

Baseline prognostic biomarkers stratifying treatment strategies in first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are lacking. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) is proposed as a potential biomarker in several cancers. We therefore decided to establish the additional prognostic value of Ang-2 for overall survival (OS) in patients with first-line mCRC. We enrolled 177 patients treated with a bevacizumab containing chemotherapy in two prospective phase II clinical trials. Patient plasma samples were collected at baseline. ELISAs were used to measure Ang-2. The multivariable Cox model identified increased lactate dehydrogenase [HR, 1.60; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-2.45; P = 0.03] and Ang-2 log-transformation level (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.14-2.21; P = 0.0065) as two significant independent OS prognostic factors. It exhibited good calibration (P = 0.8) and discrimination (C-index: 0.64; 95% CI, 0.58-0.68). Ang-2 parameter inclusion in the GERCOR reference model significantly and strongly improved its discriminative ability because the C-statistic increased significantly from 0.61 to 0.63 (bootstrap mean difference = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.069-0.077). Interestingly, the addition of Ang-2 binary information with a 5 ng/mL cutoff value to the GERCOR model allowed the reclassification of intermediate-risk profile patients (41%) into two subsets of low and high risks. Our study provides robust evidence in favor of baseline Ang-2 prognostic value for OS adding to the conventional factors. Its assessment appears to be useful for the improvement in risk stratification for patients with intermediate-risk profile. Ang-2 ability to predict OS at diagnosis could be of interest in the selection of patients eligible for intermittent or sequential therapeutic strategies dedicated to the optimization of patients' quality of life and chemotherapy cost-effectiveness. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(3); 603-12. ©2015 AACR.