de-escalation chemotherapies versus escalation in non pre-treated unresectable patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Conditions: Colorectal Neoplasms

Summary: the intensity of tumour response appears to be correlated with the feasibility and the duration of a therapeutic pause or of a reduced maintenance therapy maintained until progression in patients initially controlled by so-called "induction" chemotherapy. bevacizumab combined with cytotoxic chemotherapy (5-fu, irinotecan and/or oxaliplatin) has shown that it is possible to improve the tumour response rate and patient prognosis in 1st and 2nd lines. with a very favourable safety profile , it is an excellent candidate as induction treatment and also as maintenance treatment. prospective data from recent trials have actually demonstrated improvement in pfs and/or overall survival with bevacizumab maintenance alone or in combination with 5fu (or capecitabine) after induction chemotherapy (folfiri or folfox + bevacizumab). at the same time, the maintenance of anti-angiogenic pressure after progression in 1st line metastatic has demonstrated its benefit in terms of pfs and overall survival. bevacizumab maintenance in 2nd line metastatic, despite progression, thus appears to be a valid strategy.

thus, the objective of this work is to combine continuous blocking of angiogenesis by bevacizumab given on the first 3 metastatic lines in a randomised phase ii trial evaluating a "descending" strategy of immediate optimisation by 4 cycles of folfoxiri-bevacizumab and 4 cycles of folfiri-bevacizumab, followed by maintenance treatment with 5fu-bevacizumab until progression (re-introduction of induction in case of progression) and evaluate an "ascending" strategy with 5fu-bevacizumab immediately followed, at progression, by the introduction of irinotecan, then oxaliplatin, with maintenance of blocking of angiogenesis by bevacizumab.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * metastatic colorectal cancer, histologically proven (on primary tumour and/or metastases) * unresectable and non-pretreated metastases * braf wild-type * patient considered able to receive 3 lines of chemotherapy * at least one measurable target lesion \> 1 cm according to recist 1.1 (appendix 4) * tumour assessment according to recist, performed 4 weeks or less prior to randomization * age ≥ 18 years * who performance status ≤ 2 (appendix 5) * no major surgery within 4 weeks prior to randomisation. wound healing must be complete * life expectancy greater than 3 months * laboratory tests: neutrophils ≥ 1500/mm3, platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, haemoglobin \> 9 g/dl * creatinine clearance \> 30 ml /min (capecitabine dose modification if the creatinine clearance \< 30-50 ml/min), serum creatinine \< 1.25 x uln * liver function tests: bilirubin \< 1.25 x uln, ast/alt \< 5 x uln * women of childbearing age and men (who have sexual relations with women of childbearing age) must agree to use effective contraception without interruption throughout the duration of treatment and for 6 months after the last administration * signed informed consent exclusion criteria: * patient with a potentially resectable colorectal cancer; i.e. for whom the goal of chemotherapy would be to make all metastases resectable * patients with symptomatic metastases * patient with aggressive disease and a large tumour volume * active gastroduodenal ulcer, wound or bone fracture * at least one of the following laboratory values: neutrophils \ 1.5 n, alkaline phosphatase \> 2.5 n (or \> 5 n in case of hepatic involvement), serum creatinine \> 1.5 n, 24 hr proteinuria \> 1 g * chronic inflammatory bowel disease, extensive resection of the small bowel * clinically significant coronary artery disease or a history of myocardial infraction within the last 6 months. uncontrolled hypertension while receiving chronic medication * abdominal or major extra-abdominal surgical procedure (except diagnostic biopsy) or radiation within 4 weeks before starting treatment * previous treatment with an anti-angiogenic or irinotecan * known or suspected central nervous system metastasis cns metastases, or suspected cns metastases * other previous malignancies within 5 years, except for basal cell carcinoma of the skin or pre-invasive carcinoma of the cervix - peritoneal macro-nodular carcinomatosis * history of haemoptysis ≥ grade 2 (defined as ≥ 2.5 ml of bright red blood per episode) in the month prior to inclusion * known hypersensitivity to any component of bevacizumab or to one of the study treatments * active infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at start of treatment * history of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, intra-abdominal abscess or active gastrointestinal bleeding within 6 months prior to treatment start * pregnant or breastfeeding women * concomitant participation in another clinical study involving a drug during the treatment phase and 30 days before starting the study treatment * patient unable to undergo medical treatment for geographical, social, psychological or legal reasons.

Keywords: colorectal cancer metastasis