Summary

This phase II/III trial compares the effect of the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab to usual care (patient observation) for reducing the chance of cancer recurrence after standard surgery and chemotherapy in patients with BRAF-mutated stage IIB-III colon cancer. Encorafenib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors. It is used in patients whose cancer has a certain mutation (change) in the BRAF gene. It works by blocking the action of mutated BRAF that signals cancer cells to multiply. This helps to stop or slow the spread of cancer cells. Cetuximab is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It binds to a protein called EGFR, which is found on some types of tumor cells. This may help keep tumor cells from growing. Giving encorafenib and cetuximab combination after standard surgery and chemotherapy may be more effective at reducing the chance of cancer recurrence compared to the usual patient observation.

Objectives

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To evaluate and compare 6 month circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) clearance rate in study patients with detectable ctDNA prior to randomization to targeted BRAF therapy versus usual care after standard adjuvant chemotherapy. (Phase II)
II. To evaluate and compare 6 month ctDNA recurrence-free survival (ctDNA-RFS) rate in study patients with undetectable ctDNA prior to randomization to targeted BRAF therapy versus usual care after standard adjuvant chemotherapy. (Phase II)
III. To evaluate and compare disease-free survival (DFS) (measured from randomization) in patients with resected stage III or high-risk (pT4) stage II mismatch repair protein (MMR) proficient BRAF V600E colon cancer treated with targeted BRAF therapy versus usual care after standard adjuvant chemotherapy. (Phase III)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To evaluate and compare overall survival (OS) between the two treatment arms.
II. To evaluate and compare the toxicity profile between the two treatment arms.
III. To evaluate and compare the alternative DFS endpoint (measured from date of primary tumor resection) between the two treatment arms.
IV. To evaluate and compare DFS in the subset of patients with detectable ctDNA prior to randomization between the two treatment arms.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
I. To evaluate and compare patient-reported outcomes for symptoms of rash, diarrhea, and fatigue according to Patient Reported Outcomes Version of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) between the two treatment arms.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients receive encorafenib orally (PO) once a day (QD) on days 1-28 and cetuximab intravenously (IV) on days 1 and 15 of each treatment cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days for a total of 6 cycles. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples throughout the study and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during screening and follow-up.

ARM II: Patients undergo observation per usual care on study. Patients also undergo collection of blood samples throughout the study and CT or MRI during screening and follow-up.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed every 6 months for up to 6 years from the date of randomization or until death, whichever occurs first.

Eligibility

1. PRE-REGISTRATION (STEP 0) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
2. Pre-registration for central tumor testing will occur after colon resection. Pre-registration can occur at any time after surgery through a five week period after completion of standard adjuvant therapy
3. BRAF V600 mutational status may be determined either locally or by central testing. This testing is mandatory prior to registration to determine eligibility. Tissue submission should be initiated as soon after surgery as possible. For tumors evaluated at local laboratories, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue must still be submitted for central confirmation of BRAF status
4. REGISTRATION (STEP 1) ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
5. Histologically-proven stage III (any T [Tx, T1, T2, T3, or T4], N1-2M0; includes N1C) or high-risk (pT4) stage II colon adenocarcinoma. Tumors must be deemed to originate in the colon including tumors that extend into/involve the small bowel (e.g. those at the ileocecal valve) and must have been completely resected
6. BRAF V600E mutation
7. MMR proficient (pMMR) or microsatellite stable (MSS) tumor
8. Histologic documentation: adenocarcinoma
9. Stage: III (any T [Tx, T1, T2, T3, or T4], N1-2M0; includes N1C) or high-risk II (pT4)
10. Tumor site: colon
11. Patients must have received at least 3 months of adjuvant chemotherapy with either leucovorin calcium, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) (minimum of 5 cycles) or capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) (minimum of 3 cycles)
12. Adjuvant therapy must be completed at most 8 weeks prior to registration
13. No other prior medical therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biologic, or targeted therapy) or radiation therapy for the current colon cancer is permitted
14. Not pregnant and not nursing, because this study involves an agent that has known genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects. Therefore, for women of childbearing potential only, a negative pregnancy test done =< 7 days prior to registration is required
15. Age >= 18 years
16. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status: 0-2
17. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >= 1.0 x 10^9/L
18. Platelet count >= 75 x 10^9/L
19. Hemoglobin > 9.0 g/dL
20. Total bilirubin =< 2.0 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
21. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 3.0 x ULN
22. Corrected QT (QTc) Interval =< 480 msec
23. Creatinine =< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR calculated (calc.) creatinine clearance >= 40 mL/min
24. No evidence of active and uncontrolled bacterial or viral infection (including active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection) within 2 weeks prior to start of study intervention; exceptions include: * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial * Participants who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative (-), hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) positive (+) are eligible and should be monitored/treated as per local standard of care
25. No medical condition such as uncontrolled infection, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, or cardiac disease which, in the opinion of the treating physician, would make this protocol unreasonably hazardous for the patient
26. Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents in the last 12 months, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better * No recent history (within 1 year prior to randomization) or presence of clinically significant cardiac arrhythmias (including uncontrolled atrial fibrillation or uncontrolled paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia), * No recent history (= 6 months prior to randomization) of acute myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndromes (including unstable angina, coronary artery bypass graft, coronary angioplasty or stenting), * No history of triplicate average Fridericia’s formula–corrected QT (QTcF) interval = 480 ms, prolonged QT syndrome or congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS)
27. No uncontrolled or poorly-controlled hypertension (> 180 mmHg systolic or > 130 mmHg diastolic)
28. No history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of chemical or biologic composition similar to those of cetuximab
29. No “currently active” second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers or cervical carcinoma in situ. Patients are not considered to have a “currently active” malignancy if they have completed therapy and are free of disease for >= 3 years * Patients are not considered to have a “currently active” malignancy if they had a gastric or bowel carcinoid < 1 cm, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)/lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) of the breast without invasive cancer, or endometrial dysplasia/carcinoma in situ * Patients are not considered to have a “currently active” malignancy if they had a sebaceous neoplasm (sebaceous adenoma, sebaceous epithelioma, sebaceous adenocarcinoma, keratoacanthoma, and squamous cell carcinoma) that was noninvasive
30. No known medical condition causing an inability to swallow oral formulations of agents
31. No residual Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version (v) 5.0 grade >= 2 toxicity from prior chemotherapy, with the exception of grade 2 alopecia or neuropathy
32. Drugs that prolong the QTc interval should be avoided if possible, as encorafenib can prolong the QTc interval. Drugs that are generally accepted to have a risk of causing Torsades de Pointes should be discontinued or replaced with drugs that do not carry this risk if at all possible. Patients who receive potential QTc-prolonging medications should be monitored closely
33. Chronic concomitant treatment with strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 is not allowed during treatment on this study. Patients on strong CYP3A4 inhibitors must discontinue the drug for 14 days prior to registration on the study
34. Chronic concomitant treatment with strong CYP3A4 inducers is not allowed during treatment on this study. Patients must discontinue the drug 14 days prior to registration on the study

Treatment Sites in Georgia