A Phase II Novel Exploratory Study to Test Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy Combinations in Patients With Resectable Colon Cancer (NEST3)
This phase II trial tests how well giving botensilimab and balstilimab prior or to surgery (neoadjuvent) works for the treatment of colorectal cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) and that can be removed by surgery (resectable) colorectal cancer. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as botensilimab and balstilimab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving botensilimab and balstilimab before surgery may make the tumor smaller. Giving neoadjuvant botensilimab and balstilimab may be effective for the treatment of advanced resectable colorectal cancer.
• Documented informed consent of the participant and Legally Authorized Representative (when applicable)
‣ Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained and documented for adults lacking capacity per institutional guidelines
• Agreement to allow the use of tissue from past and future surgery and standard of care biopsies
• Age: ≥ 18 years
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) ≤ 2
• Histologically confirmed or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma. Patients with high grade dysplasia on histology plus unequivocal endoscopic or radiological evidence of invasive cancer are eligible.
∙ Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer who will be treated like colon cancer with curative-intent surgery first and no radiation are also eligible, including:
• Upper rectum or rectosigmoid considered as non-rectal and not undergoing neoadjuvant treatment
• The tumor component should not extend to less 12 cm from the anal verge.
• Any patient with rectal cancer for whom radiotherapy is not advised is included in this protocol (i.e., excluding rectal adenocarcinomas warranting treatment with chemoradiation)
‣ Microsatellite stability by mismatch repair by immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction and/or other Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified next generation sequencing. Only patients with mismatch repair proficient or microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) tumors are allowed to enroll in the study
⁃ Candidate for and planning a curative resection. Must have surgeon identified
⁃ T4, N+ (American Joint Committee on Cancer \[AJCC\] TNM staging criteria), or both by central radiographic assessment.
• Note: Patients with T3N0 stage IIA are excluded. Stage IIB, IIC, IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC are included. Patients with stage IV disease are excluded
‣ Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm\^3
⁃ Platelets ≥ 75,000/mm\^3
• NOTE: Platelet transfusions are not permitted within 14 days of platelet assessment
‣ Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL
• NOTE: Red blood cell transfusions are permitted. Patients should not have active clinically significant bleeding requiring regular transfusions. Iron infusions are also allowed
‣ Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) (unless has Gilbert's disease, in which case the liver function tests must meet the other eligibility in the protocol)
⁃ Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 3.0 x ULN
⁃ Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3.0 x ULN
⁃ Creatinine clearance of ≥ 40 mL/min per the Cockcroft-Gault formula
⁃ Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative urine or serum pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required
⁃ Agreement by females and males of childbearing potential\* to use an effective method of birth control or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through at least 9 months for women, and at least 6 months for men, after the last dose of oxaliplatin therapy. If patients discontinue oxaliplatin more than 9 months (females) or 6 months (males) before discontinuation of balstilimab and/or botensilimab, females and males of childbearing potential must use an effective method of birth control or abstain from sexual activity for the course of the study through at least 120 days after the last dose of balstilimab and/or botensilimab.
• Childbearing potential defined as not being surgically sterilized (men and women) or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year (women only).
• The following are acceptable birth control methods for this study: Surgical sterilization (tubal ligation or hysterectomy for women, or vasectomy for men), double-barrier methods (i.e. condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap, or sponge, used together with spermicidal gel or foam), intrauterine device (IUD) (i.e. Progestin, Copper), or hormonal contraceptives (birth control patches, implants, pills, rings, or injections)