Prospective Translational Study Investigating Molecular Predictors of Resistance and Response to Regorafenib Monotherapy

This is a single centre prospective biological translational research study involving the collection of tumour tissue, blood samples and clinical data from patients being treated with regorafenib for metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC) at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Patients will be eligible for the study if they have a histological diagnosis of CRC, are refractory to standard available therapies with palliative intent for mCRC, have received prior treatment with at least one anti-VEGF antibody and chemotherapy drugs including fluorouracil (5FU) or capecitabine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan, and patients have RAS mutant tumours.

This is an exploratory translational research study to obtain research biopsies of RAS mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) tumour tissue prior to commencement of regorafenib multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (MKI) treatment targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), tumour microenvironment and oncogenic driver alterations, and again at development of resistance. Candidate markers of resistance will be identified in tissue biopsies through genetic and other molecular analysis and parallel collection of serial blood specimens will facilitate the identification of resistance markers and the tracking of resistance evolution in circulating nucleic acids. Early dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) along with diffusion weighted (DW)-MRI imaging at the beginning, and on day 15+/-7 post treatment will be performed. Additionally, dual contrast enhanced CT (DECT) will be performed according to routine clinical evaluation time points before drug administration and at 8 weeks after drug administration. Disease will be monitored with serial CT scans of the chest abdomen and pelvis (CT-CAP) every eight weeks, until progression. The aim of the study is to identify novel predictive biomarkers of resistance and response to this targeted therapy in mCRC previously treated with oxaliplatin, fluoropyrimidines and irinotecan, using genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomics, proteomic and live tissue culture methods. These molecular analyses will be performed on metastatic tumour tissue samples taken firstly before commencement of regorafenib, and secondly on progression of disease, and thirdly from archival primary or metastatic tumour tissue. There is an additional biopsy at 8 weeks in patients with response or stable disease, as determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (RECIST) 1.1 criteria.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with RAS mutant (MT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have been at least once treated with available therapies including fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, oxaliplatin, irinotecan and an anti-angiogenic agent, except for patients who have not been treated with oxaliplatin due to previous documented peripheral neuropathy in an adjuvant setting or in those patients where disease has progressed within a short time from receiving adjuvant treatment (\<12 months).
2. Eligible to receive regorafenib within the context of PROSPECT-R trial at the Royal Marsden Hospital

Exclusion criteria:

A patient who meets any of the exclusion criteria will NOT be eligible for randomization.

A patient must NOT

1. have had prior treatment with regorafenib or any other VEGF-targeting kinase inhibitor
2. have had previous or concurrent cancer that is distinct in primary site or histology from colorectal cancer within 5 years prior to randomization EXCEPT for curatively treated cervical cancer in situ, non-melanoma skin cancer and superficial bladder tumors \[Ta (Noninvasive tumor), Tis (Carcinoma in situ) and T1 (Tumor invades lamina propria)\].
3. Patients that are participating in another clinical trial involving an investigational medicinal product, unless it is more than 14 days after they have ceased the investigational medicinal product
4. Patients that are participating in another research study involving tumour tissue biopsies planned to take place during the time that the patient is participating in this study
5. Have had a major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to initiation of study treatment
6. If female and of childbearing potential, be engaged in breast feeding
7. Be unable to swallow oral tablets (crushing of study treatment tablets is not allowed)
8. Arterial or venous thrombotic or embolic events such as cerebrovascular accident (including transient ischemic attacks), deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 month before the start of study medication (except for adequately treated catheter-related venous thrombosis occurring more than one month before the start of study medication)
9. Interstitial lung disease with ongoing signs and symptoms at the time of informed consent.
10. Ongoing infection \> Grade 2 NCI Common Toxicity Criterial for Adverse Effects (CTCAE).
11. Uncontrolled hypertension (Systolic blood pressure \> 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure \> 90 mmHg) despite optimal medical management
12. Have congestive heart failure classified as New York Heart Association Class 2 or higher
13. Have had unstable angina (angina symptoms at rest) or new-onset angina \< 3 months prior to screening
14. Have had a myocardial infarction \< 6 months prior to initiation of study treatment