Study in mCRC Patients RAS/BRAF wt Tissue and RAS Mutated LIquid BIopsy to Compare FOLFIRI Plus CetuxiMAb or BevacizumaB

In this prospective, randomized phase III study, first of all we aim to evaluate if in patients with mCRC RAS/BRAF wild type on tumor tissue and RAS mutations on liquid biopsy, treating in first line with antibody anti-VEGF (bevacizumab) plus chemotherapy (FOLFIRI) is superior in terms of PFS compared to standard treatment with antibody anti-EGFR (cetuximab) plus FOLFIRI, and then in patients RAS/BRAF wild type on tumor tissue who develop RAS mutations on liquid biopsy after the beginning of the first line treatment with cetuximab plus FOLFIRI, in the absence of a clinical or radiological progression disease, to anticipate a change of treatment with bevacizumab plus FOLFIRI further impacts on the PFS.

Patients RAS mut at first liquid biopsy will be randomized with a 1:1 ratio, to receive FOLFIRI plus cetuximab or FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab.

Patients with RAS wt at first biopsy will be treated with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab up to 8 cycles outside the protocol. Patients not progressed after 4 months (8 cycles of treatment) will undergo to a second liquid biopsy. In case of mutation of RAS, the patients will be randomized with a 1:1 ratio to continue cetuximab or to switch to bevacizumab.

The treatment will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, other conditions compromise subject safety or patient refusal.

Plasma samples will be analyzed for mutations of KRAS, NRAS and in BRAF V600 using the Idylla system (Biocartis). Samples will be retrospectively analysed by next generation sequencing using the Oncomine Pan-Cancer Cell-free Assay, which assesses genetic alterations in 52 driver genes, in order to evaluate the possible correlation of tumor heterogeneity with patients' outcome.

With this study we could identify the best monoclonal antibody treatment in mCRC RAS/BRAF wild type on tumor tissue and RAS mutated on liquid biopsy and if liquid biopsy can be used in clinical practice as an integrated analysis to mutational tissue evaluation, to identify RAS mutations not detected on tissue.

Inclusion criteria

• Provision of written informed consent;
• Male or female > 18 years of age;
• Histologically confirmed diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma RAS/BRAF wild type (analysed either on primary and/or related metastasis);
• Initially unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy for metastatic disease;
• Patient with left colorectal cancer;
• Patients suitable for first line chemotherapy;
• Life expectancy > 3 months;
• At least one site of measurable disease per RECIST criteria ver. 1.1;
• ECOG Performance status = 2;
• Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function assessed before starting study treatment;
• If DPD status is known it must be wild type. No restrictions are applied if DPD status in unknown;
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test within 24 hr prior to the start of study treatment. For this trial, women of childbearing potential are defined as all women after puberty, unless they are postmenopausal for at least 12 months, are surgically sterile, or are sexually inactive.
• Subjects and their partners must be willing to avoid pregnancy during the trial and until 5 months for WOCBP (Women of Childbearing Potential) and 7 months for male subjects with female partners of WOCBP after the last trial treatment. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and female subjects of childbearing potential must, therefore, be willing to use adequate contraception as approved by the investigator (barriers contraceptive measure or oral contraception).

Exclusion criteria

• Previous chemotherapy treatment, with the exception of patient treated in adjuvant setting completed at least 6 months before the randomization;
• Any contraindication to the use of Cetuximab, Bevacizumab, Irinotecan, 5FU or folinic acid;
• Radiotherapy to any site within 4 weeks before the randomization;
• Serious, non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture;
• Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy;
• Uncontrolled hypertension and prior history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy;
• Additional malignancy in the last 5 years. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or in situ cervical cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy;
• Active and untreated brain (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis;
• Active infection requiring systemic therapy or active disseminated intravascular coagulation;
• History of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antobodies);
• Any positive test for hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus indicating acute or chronic infection;
• Chronic, daily treatment with high-dose aspirin (>325 mg/day);
• Any previous venous thromboembolism > NCI CTCAE Grade 3;
• History of abdominal fistula, GI perforation, intra-abdominal abscess or active GI bleeding within 6 months prior to the first study treatment. History of acute or subacute intestinal occlusion or chronic inflammatory bowel disease or chronic diarrhoea;
• Current, recent (within 10 days prior to study treatment start) or ongoing treatment with anticoagulants for therapeutic purposes;
• Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to study treatment start, or anticipation of the need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study;
• History of any severe hypersensitivity reactions to any monoclonal antibody;
• A significant concomitant disease which, in the investigating physician's opinion, rules out the patient's participation in the study