Cetuximab with chemotherapy for advanced colorectal cancer on the right side of the colon

Who can take part

• Age ≥18 years
• 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 (barrier contraceptive measure or oral contraception). Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject
• Written informed consent for randomization
• Biopsy-confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon with a right primary tumour location (defined as proximal to and including the splenic flexure)
• colorectal adenocarcinoma (aCRC) defined as either M1 or locally inoperable disease
• Tumour RAS status either wild-type (by local testing) or unknown
• Sufficient tumour material for EREG/AREG analysis
• Written informed consent for registration
• Registered in ARIEL-ENGIC
• Local testing confirms tumour RAS-wt status
• Central testing confirms tumour EREG/AREG high
• Tumour measurable by RECIST v1.1 criteria on CT scan
• Participants have had CT scan within the timeframes stipulated (If there is a contrast reaction, then non-contrast CT with MRI is acceptable, assuming at least one of these modalities shows measurable disease at baseline for ETS evaluation and both modalities are repeated at the trial timepoints at week 8 and 16 and every 8 weeks until disease progression.)
• Pre-randomisation laboratory tests: - Neutrophils ≥1.5 x109/l and platelet count ≥100 x109/l - Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (patients with Gilbert’s syndrome who have raised bilirubin but otherwise normal liver function tests are eligible for the trial), alkaline phosphatase ≤ 5x ULN, and serum transaminase (either AST or ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN - Estimated creatinine clearance ≥50ml/min (creatinine clearance estimated as per local practice)
• WHO performance status (PS) 0, 1 or 2
• Fit for combination chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR agent
• Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test at the baseline visit

Who cannot take part

• Active uncontrolled infections or other clinically relevant concomitant illness contraindicating chemotherapy administration
• Treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to enrolment or 2 investigational agent half-lives (whichever is longer)
• Documented presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) at screening or within 3 months prior to enrolment
• Positive hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody test result at screening or within 3 months prior to enrolment. Note: Participants with a positive HCV antibody test result due to prior resolved disease can be randomised, only if a confirmatory HCV RNA test is obtained
• Prior chemotherapy for aCRC
• Definite contraindications for the use of corticosteroids and antihistamines as premedication
• Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drugs according to the product information of the pharmaceutical companies
• Woman pregnant or lactating or expecting to conceive children within the projected duration of the study through 6 months after the last dose of bevacizumab and/or fluorouracil
• Participant has received more than one cycle of chemotherapy since registration
• Participants in receipt of live vaccine within four weeks prior to randomisation
• History or evidence upon physical examination of CNS disease unless adequately treated
• Clinically significant (e.g. active) cardiovascular disease for example cerebrovascular accidents, myocardial infarction, unstable angina, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade II or greater congestive heart failure (CHF), serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication
• Other co-existing malignancies or malignancies diagnosed within the last 5 years that are likely to have an impact upon survival or treatment delivery
• Participants with history of hypersensitivity to any component of their proposed trial treatment regimen or any of their excipients
• Participants with a history interstitial pneumonitis/idiopathic lung disease (ILD) or pulmonary fibrosis
• Participants with a history of keratitis, ulcerative keratitis or severe dry eye
• Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) except where all the below criteria are satisfied: - Is receiving a stable regimen of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) - No history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome–defining opportunistic infections within 12 months before enrolment 20 - Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count ≥250 cells/μL and an undetectable viral load on standard PCR-based tests
• Prior anti-EGFR agent therapy
• Participants with a history of severe skin reaction which in the clinicians’ opinion could be exacerbated by EGFR Mab (cf Steven’s Johnson Syndrome)
• Tumour RAS-mutation present
• Complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) deficiency
• Untreated brain metastases or spinal cord compression or primary brain tumours