Fruquintinib Combined With Sintilimab ± Radiotherapy for Third-line Treatment of Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases

April 27, 2026 updated by: Jinbo Yue, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute

Fruquintinib Combined With Sintilimab ± Radiotherapy for Third-line Treatment of Colorectal Cancer With Liver Metastases: A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Phase II Trial

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its early clinical manifestations are often subtle, leading to late-stage diagnosis in about 30% of cases with distant metastases. Liver metastases are widespread and associated with poor prognosis, especially in terms of response to immunotherapy. This prospective study will evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy involving sintilimab, fruquintinib, and radiotherapy in CRC with liver metastases. The primary objectives are to assess progression-free survival, overall survival, and treatment response rates. This study aims to provide valuable insights into optimizing third-line and subsequent therapies for CRC with liver metastases by elucidating the efficacy and safety of this combined treatment approach.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

CRC is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its early clinical manifestations are often subtle, leading to late-stage diagnosis in about 30% of cases with distant metastases. Liver metastases are widespread and associated with poor prognosis, especially in terms of response to immunotherapy. This prospective study will evaluate the efficacy of combined therapy involving sintilimab, fruquintinib, and radiotherapy in CRC with liver metastases. The primary objectives are to assess progression-free survival, overall survival, and treatment response rates. The rationale for this study stems from the intricate interplay between immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiotherapy in CRC management. Previous data suggest a negative correlation between liver metastases and immunotherapy efficacy, necessitating a comprehensive approach integrating multiple treatment modalities. Radiotherapy, particularly stereotactic body radiation therapy, has shown promise in controlling liver tumors and modulating the tumor microenvironment, potentially enhancing immunotherapy responses. This study aims to provide valuable insights into optimizing third-line and subsequent therapies for CRC with liver metastases by elucidating the efficacy and safety of this combined treatment approach.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
62

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Jin Bo Yue, dorctor
  • Phone Number: 0531-67626442 0531-67626442
  • Email: Len.Xu@hotmail.com

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shandong
      • Jinan, Shandong, China, 250000
        • Recruiting
        • Jinbo Yue
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • ECOG PS 0-2
  • Histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma with liver metastases (8th edition AJCC)
  • MSS/pMMR subtype
  • Previously received standard first- and second-line systemic anti-tumor therapy
  • At least one measurable lesion as defined by RECIST 1.1 criteria
  • Access to tumor samples for biomarker assessment
  • Expected survival of ≥3 months
  • Normal function of major organ systems (within 14 days before enrollment)
  • No systemic corticosteroid treatment within 7 days before treatment initiation, excluding physiological corticosteroid replacement therapy.
  • Fertile males or females with the potential for pregnancy must use highly effective contraception methods during the trial.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients diagnosed with malignancies other than colorectal cancer within 3 years prior to enrollment.
  • Participating in an interventional clinical study or receiving other investigational drugs or treatments with study devices within the past 4 weeks before enrollment.
  • Previously received the following therapies: anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 drugs, or drugs targeting another T cell co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory receptor (e.g., CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137), fruquintinib, etc.
  • Received traditional Chinese medicine or immune-modulating drugs with anti-tumor indications within the past 2 weeks before enrollment (excluding local use for controlling pleural effusion).
  • Experienced active autoimmune diseases requiring systemic therapy within the past 2 years before enrollment. Replacement therapy is not considered systemic therapy.
  • Diagnosed with immune deficiency or received systemic corticosteroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days before the first dose of investigational treatment. After consultation with the sponsor, the use of physiological doses of corticosteroids may be approved.
  • Received liver radiotherapy within the past 2 weeks before enrollment.
  • Known presence of central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • Received systemic corticosteroid therapy within 7 days before enrollment.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Immunotherapy, targert therapy, and radiotherapy
For liver oligometastases, high-dose stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) irradiation will be administered to all lesions with a dose fractionation pattern of 40-50 Gy/5F, 60-70 Gy/10F, or 65 Gy/13F. For multiple liver metastases, SBRT plus low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) will be performed to all lesions. One or more suitable lesions (which will be selected by the physician based on proximity to organs at risk) will undergo SBRT with a dose fractionation pattern of 40-50 Gy/5F, 60-70 Gy/10F, or 65 Gy/13F, and the remaining lesions will undergo LDRT at a total dose of 1-10 Gy at 0.5-2.0 Gy/F. Extrahepatic lesions will be not treated with radiotherapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy will be administered one week after the end of radiation therapy. A 21-day treatment cycle of sintilimab (200 mg, D1, once every 3 weeks) will be given intravenously on day 1 of each cycle, and fruquintinib will be given on days 1 to 14.
Drug: Immunotherapy (Sintilimab)
Sintilimab
Drug: Targeted Therapy Agent (Fruquintinib)
Fruquintinib
Radiation: Radiotherapy (SBRT and LDRT)
SBRT and LDRT
Active Comparator: Immunotherapy and targert therapy
A 21-day treatment cycle of sintilimab (200 mg, D1, once every 3 weeks) will be given intravenously on day 1 of each cycle, and fruquintinib will be given on days 1 to 14.
Drug: Immunotherapy (Sintilimab)
Sintilimab
Drug: Targeted Therapy Agent (Fruquintinib)
Fruquintinib
Active Comparator: Targert therapy
Treatment with fruquintinib (5 mg, po, D1-21, once every 4 weeks) will be given on days 1 through 21 in a 28-day treatment cycle.
Drug: Targeted Therapy Agent (Fruquintinib)
Fruquintinib

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression-free survival (PFS)
Time Frame: 1 year
Time from initial drug administration to first radiographic disease progression or death (whichever occurs first).
1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall response rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 1 year
The proportion of subjects achieving complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) among the total subjects; includes assessment of both irradiated and non-irradiated lesions.
1 year
Disease control rate (DCR)
Time Frame: 1 year
The proportion of subjects achieving complete response (CR), partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD) among the total subjects.
1 year
Overall survival (OS)
Time Frame: 3 year
Time from initial drug administration to death of the subject for any reason.
3 year
The incidence and grade of adverse events
Time Frame: 2 year
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 4.0) grades adverse event severity from 1=mild to 5=death.
2 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jin Bo Yue, Shandong Cancer Hospital And Institute

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 5, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 5, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 28, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 27, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • SDZLEC2024-078-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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