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Monoclonal Antibodies

Immunotherapy + Targeted Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Phase 2
Recruiting
Led By Chloe Atreya, MD, Ph.D.
Research Sponsored by University of California, San Francisco
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Histologically or cytologically confirmed CRC with liver metastases
Locally confirmed MSS or pMMR Colorectal cancer (CRC)
Must not have
Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy or immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment
Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in past 2 years
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 2 years
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing a combination of immunotherapy and targeted therapy as a treatment for colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and can be removed by surgery.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver and can be surgically removed. Participants must have had oxaliplatin-based chemo, be able to undergo a liver biopsy and surgery, use contraception if of childbearing potential, and not have certain health conditions or recent treatments that could affect the trial.
What is being tested?
The study tests pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) combined with vactosertib after standard chemotherapy but before liver surgery in patients with colorectal cancer. The goal is to shrink the cancer before removal and reduce recurrence risk after surgery.
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab may cause immune-related side effects like inflammation in organs, fatigue, skin reactions, hormonal gland problems (like thyroid), infusion reactions; while vactosertib might lead to issues such as nausea, diarrhea, blood count changes.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My colorectal cancer has spread to my liver.
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My colorectal cancer is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H).
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I am 18 years old or older.
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I have been treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy before.
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I have received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy before.
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I am fully active or restricted in physically strenuous activity but can do light work.
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I am fully active or can carry out light work.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have an immune system disorder or have been on steroids or immune-suppressing drugs recently.
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I have not needed treatment for an autoimmune disease in the last 2 years.
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I have had brain function issues in the last 6 months.
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My cancer has spread to my brain or its coverings.
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I have fluid buildup in my abdomen or around my lungs that causes symptoms.
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I am currently on medication for an infection.
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I have been diagnosed with HIV.
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I have had pneumonitis treated with steroids or have it now.
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I do not have any serious illnesses that are not under control.
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I have had an organ or bone marrow transplant.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 2 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 2 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Neoplasms
Secondary study objectives
Median Relapse-free survival (RFS) per RECIST 1.1
Objective response rate (ORR)
Pathologic response rate
+4 more

Side effects data

From 2024 Phase 3 trial • 804 Patients • NCT03040999
64%
Radiation skin injury
63%
Stomatitis
58%
Anaemia
56%
Nausea
48%
Dry mouth
45%
Constipation
45%
Weight decreased
44%
Dysphagia
42%
Neutrophil count decreased
33%
Dysgeusia
33%
Vomiting
32%
Fatigue
31%
White blood cell count decreased
28%
Hypomagnesaemia
26%
Decreased appetite
25%
Hypothyroidism
25%
Hypokalaemia
24%
Lymphocyte count decreased
24%
Platelet count decreased
23%
Oropharyngeal pain
23%
Blood creatinine increased
22%
Diarrhoea
22%
Odynophagia
20%
Hypoacusis
20%
Alanine aminotransferase increased
20%
Hyponatraemia
19%
Tinnitus
19%
Oral candidiasis
19%
Asthenia
16%
Pyrexia
16%
Cough
15%
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
15%
Rash
14%
Insomnia
13%
Acute kidney injury
13%
Pharyngeal inflammation
13%
Pruritus
12%
Dysphonia
12%
Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased
11%
Pneumonia
11%
Dehydration
10%
Hyperthyroidism
10%
Hypoalbuminaemia
10%
Hypocalcaemia
10%
Headache
10%
Productive cough
9%
Neck pain
9%
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
8%
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease
8%
Hiccups
8%
Hyperglycaemia
8%
Hyperuricaemia
8%
Dizziness
8%
Hypophosphataemia
7%
Urinary tract infection
7%
Ear pain
7%
Localised oedema
7%
Hyperkalaemia
7%
Erythema
7%
Oral pain
6%
Abdominal pain upper
6%
Arthralgia
6%
Anxiety
6%
Febrile neutropenia
6%
Dyspepsia
6%
Saliva altered
5%
Back pain
5%
Oedema peripheral
5%
Hypertension
5%
Dyspnoea
4%
Nasopharyngitis
4%
Alopecia
4%
Dry skin
3%
Sepsis
3%
Pneumonia aspiration
3%
Trismus
3%
Pneumonitis
3%
Laryngeal oedema
2%
Malnutrition
2%
Pharyngeal haemorrhage
2%
Cellulitis
1%
Septic shock
1%
Systemic infection
1%
Clostridium difficile colitis
1%
Cardiac arrest
1%
Death
1%
Bronchitis
1%
Hepatitis
1%
Immune-mediated hepatitis
1%
Oesophagitis
1%
General physical health deterioration
1%
Hypophagia
1%
Tumour haemorrhage
1%
Cerebrovascular accident
1%
Syncope
1%
Acute respiratory failure
1%
Aspiration
1%
Colitis
1%
Mouth haemorrhage
1%
Hypersensitivity
1%
Acute myocardial infarction
1%
Abscess neck
1%
Device related infection
1%
Stoma site infection
1%
Vascular device infection
1%
Wound infection
1%
Hypercalcaemia
1%
Pulmonary embolism
1%
Respiratory failure
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Pembrolizumab + CRT Followed by Pembrolizumab
Placebo + CRT Followed by Placebo

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Treatment (vactosertib, pembrolizumab, surgery)Experimental Treatment3 Interventions
Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab will be administered at a fixed dose of 200 mg (IV) for 1 cycle plus 200 mg vactosertib (PO QD, 5 days per week x 2 weeks). Adjuvant pembrolizumab (400 mg IV) + vactosertib (200 mg PO QD Cycle 1, 5 days per week, Cycles 2 and beyond (200 mg BID, 5 days per week) will be administered for up to eight 6-week cycles
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Vactosertib
2017
Completed Phase 1
~20
Hepatectomy
2020
Completed Phase 2
~2040
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 3
~3150

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

University of California, San FranciscoLead Sponsor
2,587 Previous Clinical Trials
14,901,157 Total Patients Enrolled
1 Trials studying Liver Cancer
Chloe Atreya, MD, PhDLead Sponsor
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry Sponsor
4,015 Previous Clinical Trials
5,186,314 Total Patients Enrolled
2 Trials studying Liver Cancer
134 Patients Enrolled for Liver Cancer
~5 spots leftby Jan 2027