Envafolimab as Neoadjuvant Immuntherapy in Resectable Local Advanced dMMR/MSI-H Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumours of human beings. Mismatch Repair-deficient (dMMR)/ Microsatellite Instability-high (MSI-H) CRC is a specific subtype of CRC, which accounts for approximately 15% of all CRC patients, and can not benefit from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) adjuvant chemotherapy. Once patients have distant metastases, they are not sensitive to traditional palliative chemotherapy, and thus lead to much worse prognosis than that of mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR)/ microsatellite stability (MSS). A phase II clinical study of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy based on mismatch repair (MMR) status published in "N Engl J Med" showed that the objective response rate (ORR) of advanced colorectal cancer patients with dMMR received anti-PD-1 is 40%, and a longer response time can be obtained compared to conventional chemotherapy. Another study (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03926338) which investigating the effect of neoadjuvant PD-1 blockade with toripalimab, with or without celecoxib, on mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high, locally advanced, colorectal cancer. The result revealed that all 34 patients had an R0 resection. 15 of 17 patients (88%) in the toripalimab plus celecoxib group and 11 of 17 patients (65%) in the toripalimab monotherapy group had a pathological complete response.

In theory, anti-PD-L1 drugs should have fewer immune side-effects than anti-PD-1 drugs. However, there are no reports of anti-PD-L1 neoadjuvant therapy for the dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody (Envafolimab) as neoadjuvant immuntherapy for resectable local advanced colorectal cancer patient with the dMMR/MSI-H.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
2. Histological or cytological documentation of adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum.
3. Tumor tissues were identified as mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
4. Male or female subjects \> 18 years \< 70 of age.
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
6. Determined CT or MRI scans (done within 14 days of registration) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis: locally advanced (cT3-4 or cN1-2 \[with the definition of a clinically positive lymph node being any node ≥ 1.0 cm\]).
7. Non complicated primary tumor (obstruction, perforation, bleeding).
8. No previous any systemic anticancer therapy for colorectal cancer disease or radiologic evaluation of tumor regression \< 20% or unacceptable toxic effects during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
9. Adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function as assessed by the following laboratory requirements conducted within 7 days of starting study treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Previous or concurrent cancer that is distinct in primary site or histology from colon cancer within 5 years prior to randomization.
2. Significant cardiovascular disease including unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 6 months before initiating study treatment.
3. Heart failure grade III/IV (NYHA-classification).
4. Unresolved toxicity higher than CTCAE v.4.0 Grade 1 attributed to any prior therapy/procedure.
5. Subjects with known allergy to the study drugs or to any of its excipients.
6. Current or recent (within 4 weeks prior to starting study treatment) treatment of another investigational drug or participation in another investigational study.
7. Breast- feeding or pregnant women
8. Lack of effective contraception.
9. Previously received anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) or its ligand (PD-L1) antibody, anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated Protein 4, CTLA-4) antibody or other drug/antibody that acts on T cell costimulation or checkpoint pathways.
10. With any distant metastasis.