Phase III FIRE-4 study (AIO KRK-0114): Influence of baseline liquid biopsy results in first-line treatment efficacy of FOLFIRI/cetuximab in patients with tissue RAS-WT mCRC.
Authors: Stintzing Sebastian , Heinemann Volker , Fischer von Weikersthal Ludwig , Fuchs Martin , Kaiser Florian , Heinrich Kathrin , Modest Dominik Paul , Hofheinz Ralf Dieter , Decker Thomas , Gerger Armin , Angermeier Stefan , Rumpold Holger , Öhler Leopold , Gruenberger Birgit , Niedersuess-Beke Dora , Winder Thomas , Trojan Joerg , Prager Gerald W. , Baraniskin Alexander , Klein-Scory Susanne 
Published: June 2023

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Background: FIRE-4 (AIO KRK-0114) is performed in RAS wild-type (wt) mCRC patients. This randomized study tests the efficacy of early switch maintenance during 1st-line therapy (part 1) and re-challenge with cetuximab (part 2) in later-line treatment. In part 1, arm A patients continued FOLFIRI/Cet until progression or intolerable toxicity. In arm B, patients received FOLFIRI/Cet for 8-12 cycles, after which maintenance therapy with 5-FU/FA plus bevacizumab (5-FU/Bev) was applied. The first randomization evaluates the question if an early switch from cetuximab to bevacizumab may prolong PFS. Within the translational protocol, serial baseline liquid biopsy were taken to analyze RAS and BRAF mutations. Methods: Within this randomized, controlled, open-label phase-III study, patients received FOLFIRI (irinotecan plus 5-FU/FA) plus cetuximab at the standard dosing schedule. In arm A, FOLFIRI plus cetuximab was continued until progression or intolerable toxicity. In arm B, patients received 8 cycles of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (in case of tumor response) or 12 cycles (in case of stable disease) followed by maintenance with 5-FU/FA plus bevacizumab (5mg/kg) until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. Overall survival after second randomization (part 2) is evaluated as a primary endpoint. Liquid Biopsies were analyzed by RAS BEAMing and BRAF ddPCR technology. Results: From August 2015 to January 2021, 673 patients were randomized, and liquid biopsies of 540 patients were evaluable at baseline. Of those, 70 (13%) were RAS mutant and 38 (7%) BRAFV600E mutant at baseline. Patients with a detectable RASmut had a significant shorter PFS and OS when compared to RASwt patients (PFS: 9.0mo vs. 11.5mo; p < 0.001; OS: 22.1mo vs 33.6mo; p < 0.001). Whereas, for RASwt patients no difference for both arms with respect to PFS and OS could be observed, RASmut patients (n = 70) had a clear trend towards shorter survival in the standard FOLFIRI cetuximab arm (PFS: 6.4mo vs. 10.1mo, p = 0.54; OS: 24.9mo vs. 16.3mo, p = 0.10). Patients with a BRAF mutation in liquid biopsy had median survival times as expected for BRAF mutant patients (PFS = 5.5mo; OS = 12.0mo). In the standard arm, with a continuous administration of cetuximab, the conversion rate from RASwt to RASmut was significantly higher at progression than in the switch maintenance arm. Conclusions: Liquid biopsy detected RAS mutation in 13% of patients deemed RASwt based on tissue analyses. These patients show outcome characteristics expected for RAS mutant patients (median PFS of 9.0 months and median OS of 22 months). The study thus shows the clinical relevance of liquid biopsy in the verification of RAS mutational status. Clinical trial information: NCT02934529 .