Patients with colorectal cancer may one day benefit from a combination therapy thanks to an international trial now underway with the Froedtert & the MCW Cancer Network.
In this phase III trial, researchers are studying a different drug combination for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who previously have had one line of therapy. The new medication being studied has the capability of hitting two separate targets, both of which are key to cancer growth and survival. In addition, the new treatment not only blocks the targets in the cancer cell, but also causes these targets to be broken down. Patients will also get standard chemotherapy, and the trial will examine whether the new medication provides additional benefit.
“We hope this combination will shut down these pathways for the cancer and stop the cells from dividing,” said James Thomas, MD, PhD, medical oncologist and associate director of Translational Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center. Dr. Thomas is the principal investigator leading the trial locally. “It’s a goal of research to improve survival for these patients using a targeted approach, but also, in some instances, allow people with inoperable cancer to have surgery.”
The drugs and combinations have already been tested for safety. This phase III trial hopes to determine whether this new combination is more effective than the standard therapy.
“This trial is tailored to roughly half the population of metastatic colorectal patients who do not have a mutation in KRAS and NRAS or BRAF,” Dr. Thomas said. “A personalized medicine approach is all about finding the right group of patients most likely to respond to therapy.”
Trial participants will receive the drugs through IV infusion once every two weeks. They can stay on the trial as long as the treatment is working.
“We are optimistic this trial could improve future therapy,” Dr. Thomas said. “The hope is that these combinations are more effective at eliminating cancer and that people can live longer and better.”
