DNA-Guided chemo aims to stop colon cancer return
NCT ID NCT05062889
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether using a blood test for circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can help doctors decide if patients with stage II or III colon cancer need stronger chemotherapy after surgery. The trial compares standard chemo with a more intense regimen (FOLFOXIRI) and an additional drug (Trifluridine/Tipiracil) for those still at high risk. A separate group with HER2-positive cancer will receive targeted therapy. The goal is to see if these approaches can make ctDNA undetectable, which may lower the chance of cancer coming back.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- chemotherapy (FOLFOXIRI, FOLFOX, Trifluridine/Tipiracil, Trastuzumab, Tucatinib)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that using ctDNA to guide more aggressive chemotherapy reduces the chance of colon cancer returning after surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial that is currently suspended, so results are far from certain. The intensified chemo may cause more side effects and may not improve long-term outcomes.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 477 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2023
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria, Part I, adjuvant phase: * Written informed consent to study procedures; * 18 - 70 years of age ECOG Performance Status ≤ 1 or 71-75 years of age with ECOG Performance Status 0; * Histologically confirmed stage III or high-risk stage II adenocarcinoma of colon including intraperitoneal rectal cancer. Stage II colon cancers are defined at high risk if at least one major prognostic factor (pT4, less than 12 nodes examined, clinical presentation with bowel perforation) or at least two minor prognostic factors (grade 3 or 4, clinical presentation with bowel obstruction, histological signs of vascular or lymphatic or perineural invasion, high preoperative CEA levels) are reported; * Curative surgery performed no less than 4 and no more than 12 weeks prior to randomization (pending results of ct-DNA analysis, up to 2 cycles of FOLFOX/CAPOX are allowed to start the adjuvant treatment within 8-10 weeks after surgery); * Contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT scan (or abdomen MRI and chest CT if contrast-enhanced CT scan is contraindicated) performed after the surgery and prior to randomization with no evidence of metastatic disease; * Availability of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue from the surgical specimen and blood sample for ct-DNA analysis within 28 days prior randomization; * Positive ct-DNA after surgery (central assessment); * Neutrophils ≥1.5 x 109/L, Platelets ≥100 x 109/L, Hgb ≥ 9 g/dl; * Total bilirubin ≤1.5 fold the upper-normal limits (UNL), ASAT (SGOT) and/or ALAT (SGPT) ≤2.5 x UNL (or \<5 x UNL in the case of liver metastases), alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5 x UNL (or \<5 x UNL in case of liver metastases); * Creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min or serum creatinine ≤1.5 x UNL; * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test at the screening visit. For this trial, women of childbearing potential are defined as all women after puberty, unless the participants are postmenopausal for at least 12 months, are surgically sterile, or are sexually inactive. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient; * Subjects and their partners must be willing to avoid pregnancy during the trial. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and female subjects of childbearing potential must, therefore, be willing to use adequate contraception. Contraception, starting during study screening visit throughout the study period up to 180 days after the last dose of chemotherapy. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject; \- Will and ability to comply with the protocol. Inclusion Criteria Part 1 and target-driven part 1, adjuvant phase II study * Written informed consent to study procedures; * 18 - 70 years of age ECOG PS ≤ 1 or 71-75 years of age with ECOG PS 0; * Histologically confirmed stage III or high-risk stage II adenocarcinoma of colon including intraperitoneal rectal cancer. Stage II colon cancers are defined at high risk if at least one major prognostic factor (pT4, less than 12 nodes examined, clinical presentation with bowel perforation) or at least two minor prognostic factors (grade 3 or 4, clinical presentation with bowel obstruction, histological signs of vascular or lymphatic or perineural invasion, high preoperative CEA levels) are reported; * For target-driven Part 1 only: HER2+ and RAS wt disease as determined by a tissue-based assay (central laboratory assessment); * Curative surgery performed no less than 4 and no more than 12 weeks prior to randomization (pending results of ct-DNA analysis, up to 2 cycles of FOLFOX/CAPOX are allowed to start the adjuvant treatment within 8-10 weeks after surgery); * Contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT scan (or abdomen MRI and chest CT if contrast-enhanced CT scan is contraindicated) performed after the surgery and prior to randomization with no evidence of metastatic disease; * Availability of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue from the surgical specimen and blood sample for ct-DNA analysis within 28 days prior randomization; * Positive ct-DNA after surgery (central assessment); * Neutrophils ≥1.5 x 109/L, Platelets ≥100 x 109/L, Hgb ≥ 9 g/dl; * Total bilirubin ≤1.5 fold the upper-normal limits (UNL), ASAT (SGOT) and/or ALAT (SGPT) ≤2.5 x UNL, alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5 x UNL; * Creatinine clearance ≥50 mL/min or serum creatinine ≤1.5 x UNL; * For target-driven Part 1 only: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% as assessed by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scan. * Availability of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue from the surgical specimen for translational analysis (only for patients eligible for protocol treatment); * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test at the screening visit. For this trial, women of childbearing potential are defined as all women after puberty, unless they are postmenopausal for at least 12 months, are surgically sterile, or are sexually inactive. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient; * Subjects and their partners must be willing to avoid pregnancy during the trial. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and female subjects of childbearing potential must, therefore, be willing to use adequate contraception. Contraception, starting during study screening visit throughout the study period up to 180 days after the last dose of chemotherapy. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject; * Will and ability to comply with the protocol. Inclusion Criteria, Part II, post-adjuvant phase: * Written informed consent to study procedures; * ≥ 18 years of age; * Histologically confirmed stage III or high-risk stage II adenocarcinoma of colon including intraperitoneal rectal cancer. Stage II colon cancers are defined at high risk if at least one major prognostic factor (pT4, less than 12 nodes examined, clinical presentation with bowel perforation) or at least two minor prognostic factors (grade 3 or 4, clinical presentation with bowel obstruction, histological signs of vascular or lymphatic or perineural invasion, high preoperative CEA levels) are reported; * Fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin-containing adjuvant treatment for at least 3 months (6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin-based therapy or 4 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin-based-therapy) and no more than 6 months (12 cycles of 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin-based therapy or 8 cycles of capecitabine and oxaliplatin-based-therapy); * Contrast-enhanced chest and abdominal CT scan (or abdomen MRI and chest CT if contrast-enhanced CT scan is contraindicated) performed within 4 weeks from the end of adjuvant therapy and 28 days prior to randomization; * Availability of FFPE tumor tissue from the surgical specimen and blood sample for ct-DNA analysis within 28 days prior to randomization; * Positive ct-DNA after the end of adjuvant treatment (centrally laboratory assessment); * ECOG Performance Status ≤ 1; * Neutrophils ≥1.5 x 109/L, Platelets ≥100 x 109/L, Hgb ≥9 g/dl; * Total bilirubin ≤1.5 fold the upper-normal limits (UNL), ASAT (SGOT) and/or ALAT (SGPT) ≤2.5 x UNL (or \<5 x UNL in the case of liver metastases), alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5 x UNL (or \<5 x UNL in case of liver metastases); * Creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min or serum creatinine ≤1.5 x UNL; * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative blood pregnancy test at the screening visit. For this trial, women of childbearing potential are defined as all women after puberty, unless the participants are postmenopausal for at least 12 months, are surgically sterile, or are sexually inactive. A postmenopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However, in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient;. * Subjects and their partners must be willing to avoid pregnancy during the trial. Male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential and female subjects of childbearing potential must, therefore, be willing to use adequate contraception. Contraception, starting during study screening visit throughout the study period up to 180 days after the last dose of chemotherapy. Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject; \- Will and ability to comply with the protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Part 1, adjuvant phase and Part 2, post-adjuvant phase * Any evidence of metastatic disease (radiological or pathological metastasis); * Macroscopic or microscopic evidence of residual tumor (R1 or R2 resections) after surgery; * Other co-existing malignancies or malignancies diagnosed within the last 5 years with the exception of localized basal and squamous cell carcinoma or cervical cancer in situ; * For Part 1 only: patient with complete dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) deficiency (homozygous of the following DPYD polymorphisms: c1679GG, c1905+1AA, c2846TT); * History or evidence upon physical examination of CNS disease unless adequately treated; * Clinical signs of malnutrition; * Active uncontrolled infections or other clinically relevant concomitant illness contraindicating chemotherapy administration; * Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy; * Clinically significant (i.e. active) cardiovascular disease for example cerebrovascular accidents (≤6 months), myocardial infarction (≤6 months), unstable angina, New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade II or greater congestive heart failure, serious cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication; * Significant vascular disease (i.e. aortic aneurysm requiring surgical repair or recent arterial thrombosis) within 6 months of study enrolment; * Lack of physical integrity of the upper gastrointestinal tract, malabsorption syndrome, or inability to take oral medication; * Treatment with any investigational drug within 30 days prior to enrolment or 2 investigational agent half-lives (whichever is longer); * Known hypersensitivity to trial drugs or hypersensitivity to any other component of the trial drugs; * Any concomitant drugs contraindicated for use with the trial drugs according to the product information of the pharmaceutical companies; * Pregnant or lactating women. Women of childbearing potential with either a positive or no pregnancy test at screening. Sexually active males and females (of childbearing potential) unwilling to practice contraception (as defined in section 5.5) during the study and until 180 days after the last trial treatment. * Part 1, target-driven, adjuvant phase: * Ongoing ≥ Grade 2 diarrhea of any etiology at screening; * Presence of known chronic liver disease; * Known to be positive for hepatitis C infection (positive by polymerase chain reaction \[PCR\]). Subjects who have been treated for hepatitis C infection are permitted if they have documented sustained virologic response of at least 12 weeks. * Known to be positive for hepatitis B (HBV) by surface antigen (HBsAg) expression. Subjects who are positive for either hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAB) or antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAB) should be screened using PCR measurement of hepatitis B DNA levels. Subjects with hepatitis B DNA levels by PCR that require nucleoside analogue therapy are not eligible for the trial. The latest local guidelines should be followed regarding the monitoring of hepatitis B DNA levels by PCR subjects on study treatment.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
28 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
The full official record for this study. This one lists no contact details, but it is the first place any would appear.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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A.O.U Careggi
Florence, 50134, Italy
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A.O.U. di Ferrara Arcispedale Sant'Anna
Ferrara, 44100, Italy
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AOU Cagliari PO Policlinico Universitario Duilio Casula Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula"
Cagliari, 09042, Italy
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AUSL Romagna
Ravenna, 48121, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliera Cardinale Giovanni Panico
Tricase, Lecce, 73039, Italy
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Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Maggiore della Carita
Novara, 28100, Italy
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Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale
Udine, 33100, Italy
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Azienda USL IRCCS di Reggio Emilia (centro principale Reggio Emilia e centro satellite Guastalla).
Reggio Emilia, 42123, Italy
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Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest di Livorno
Livorno, 57124, Italy
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Azienda USL di Piacenza
Piacenza, 29121, Italy
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E.O. Ospedali Galliera di Genova
Genova, 16128, Italy
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Fondazione Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza
San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, 71013, Italy
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Fondazione IRCCS INT - Milano
Milan, 20133, Italy
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Fondazione POLIAMBULANZA ISTITUTO OSPEDALIERO
Brescia, 25124, Italy
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IRCCS di Candiolo
Torino, 10060, Italy
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Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS
Padua, 35128, Italy
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Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori "Dino Amadori"
Meldola, 47014, Italy
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Istituto per la ricerca sui tumori Regina Elena
Roma, 00144, Italy
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Nuovo Ospedale di Prato
Prato, 59100, Italy
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Ospedale Campostaggia Poggiponsi
Siena, 53100, Italy
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Ospedale Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina
Roma, 00186, Italy
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Ospedale Misericordia di Grosseto
Grosseto, 58100, Italy
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Ospedale San Donato di Arezzo
Arezzo, 52100, Italy
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Ospedale San Luca di Lucca
Lucca, 55100, Italy
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Ospedale San Raffaele
Milan, 20132, Italy
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Policlinico Fondazione Agostino Gemelli
Roma, 00168, Italy
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Policlinico Tor Vergata Roma
Roma, 00133, Italy
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Spedali Civili di Brescia
Brescia, 25123, Italy
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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