Chemo holidays put to the test: can scheduled breaks beat continuous treatment for advanced colorectal cancer?
NCT ID NCT07004413
First seen Jul 29, 2026 · Last updated Jul 30, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 3 trial tests whether giving the targeted therapy cetuximab plus FOLFIRI chemotherapy in scheduled breaks works as well as continuous treatment for people with a specific genetic type of metastatic colorectal cancer (RAS/BRAF wild-type). The study compares how long the cancer stays under control and whether quality of life improves with fewer side effects. Participants receive standard treatment either continuously or with planned pauses, monitored by regular blood tests and imaging. A novel blood test (ctDNA) is also being tested to see if it can detect cancer progression earlier than scans.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a combination of cetuximab and FOLFIRI chemotherapy (irinotecan, folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil)
- What this could lead to
- If taking scheduled breaks from treatment works as well as continuous therapy, patients could have fewer side effects and a better quality of life without compromising cancer control.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage question in a specific genetic subtype of colorectal cancer. The break strategy might allow the cancer to progress faster, and the blood test to detect early progression is still being validated.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for COLORECTAL CANCER METASTATIC are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Charite University, Berlin
Berlin, 10117, Germany
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a smart drug home in on Hard-to-Treat cancers?
- Can a vaccine boost immunotherapy against a stubborn cancer?
- What does recovery really look like after aggressive peritoneal cancer surgery?
- Can two immune boosters outsmart Chemo-Resistant colon cancer?
- Could a liver transplant from a living donor help fight colorectal cancer that spread?
- Experimental drug SHR-A1904 takes on Hard-to-Treat colorectal cancer