Neoadjuvant Encorafenib, Binimetinib and Cetuximab for Patients With BRAF V600E Mutated/pMMR Localized Colorectal Cancer (NeoBRAF)

AIO-KRK-0420 NeoBRAF is a single arm, multicenter, phase II trial with neoadjuvant encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab for patients with BRAF V600E mutated/pMMR localized colorectal cancer.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer; Colon Cancer; BRAF V600 Mutation; BRAF V600E; Localized Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Binimetinib

Detailed Description

This is a single arm, multicenter, phase II trial for patients with unresected BRAF V600E mutated/pMMR localized colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients enrolled will be treated with neoadjuvant encorafenib (300mg QD), binimetinib (45mg BID) and cetuximab (500mg/m² biweekly) for 8 weeks. Neoadjuvant treatment will be followed by surgery. First Endpoint is TRG (Tumor-Regression-Grade) which will be analyzed centrally. Patients with TRG>1 will receive adjuvant treatment with encorafenib (300mg QD), binimetinib (45mg BID) and cetuximab (500mg/m² biweekly) for up to 16 weeks. For patients with TRG<2 EOT will be reached 4-6 weeks after last dosage of encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab and further treatment is at investigator discretion (CAPOX recommended). All subjects will be followed every 3 months after surgery for up to 4 years after start of recruitment.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 2
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Hamburg, Germany, 20249
    • Hämatologisch-Onkologische Praxis Eppendorf

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Biopsy-confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or upper rectum if too high for radiotherapy.
2. Radiologically (CT/MRI) staged disease as: T3-4 (as invasion of surrounding tissue structures or organs) and/or nodal positive (N+ defined as regional lymph node(s) without fat hilus and short axis diameter of ≥1 cm), M0.
3. BRAF V600E mutation and pMMR or MSS (as determined by a validated test, preferably PCR or NGS).
4. ECOG performance status ≤ 1.
5. Age ≥ 18 years.

6. Adequate hematologic function at screening as follows:

   ANC ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, platelets ≥ 100 x109/L, hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL.

7. Adequate liver function at screening as measured by serum transaminases (AST & ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN and total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN. Patients with known Gilbert disease who have serum bilirubin level ≤ 3 × ULN may be enrolled.
8. Adequate renal function at screening: serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN.
9. Adequate serum electrolytes at screening defined as serum potassium and magnesium levels within institutional normal limits (Note: replacement treatment to achieve adequate electrolytes will be allowed.
10. Adequate cardiac function at screening characterized by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% as determined by ECHO and QT interval corrected for heart rate using Fridericia's formula (QTcF) value ≤ 480 msec.
11. Negative serum pregnancy test at screening for women of childbearing potential.
12. Highly effective contraception for both male and female subjects if the risk of conception exists. (Note: The effects of the trial drugs on the developing human fetus are unknown; thus, women of childbearing potential and men able to father a child must agree to use highly effective contraception, defined as methods with a failure rate of less than 1 % per year, containing at least 1 form of non-hormonal contraception. Highly effective contraception is required at least 28 days prior, throughout and for at least 6 months after interventional study treatment (encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab).
13. Signed and dated written informed consent.
14. Ability to take oral medication.
15. Ability to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, including hospital/office visits for treatment and scheduled follow-up visits and examinations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any prior systemic therapy, surgery or radiotherapy of the colorectal cancer disease.
2. History or current evidence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO) or current risk factors for RVO (e.g., uncontrolled glaucoma or ocular hypertension, history of hyperviscosity or hypercoagulability syndromes).
3. Malignancies other than disease under study within 5 years prior to inclusion, with the exception of those with a negligible risk of metastasis or death (e.g., expected 5-year OS >90%) treated with expected curative outcome (such as adequately treated carcinoma in situ of the cervix, localized prostate cancer treated surgically with curative intent, ductal carcinoma in situ treated surgically with curative intent).
4. Known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies or BRAF-/MEK-inhibitors (grade ≥ 3 NCI-CTCAE v 5), any history of anaphylaxis, or uncontrolled asthma (that is, 3 or more features of partially controlled asthma).
5. Pregnancy or lactation.
6. Known alcohol or drug abuse.
7. Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (≤ 6 months prior to enrolment); myocardial infarction (≤ 6 months prior to enrolment), acute coronary syndromes [including unstable angina, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), coronary angioplasty or stenting) ≤ 6 months prior to enrolment]; congestive heart failure (≥New York Heart Association Classification Class II); or history or current evidence of clinically significant arrhythmia and/or conduction abnormality (≤ 6 months prior to enrolment), except rate controlled atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
8. Uncontrolled hypertension defined as persistent elevation of systolic blood pressure ≥ 150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg despite current therapy.
9. Preexisting interstitial lung disease.
10. Impaired GI function or disease that may significantly alter the absorption of encorafenib or binimetinib (e.g., ulcerative diseases, uncontrolled vomiting, malabsorption syndrome, small bowel resection with decreased intestinal absorption).
11. History of thromboembolic or cerebrovascular events ≤ 6 months prior to enrolment, including transient ischemic attacks, cerebrovascular accidents, deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary emboli.
12. Concurrent neuromuscular disorder that is associated with the potential of elevated CK (e.g., inflammatory myopathies, muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy).
13. Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or active hepatitis B or C infection.
14. All other significant diseases, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, might impair the subject's tolerance of trial treatment.
15. Any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of informed consent.
16. Any approved anticancer therapy, including chemotherapy, hormonal therapy or radiotherapy, within 5 half-lives or 4 weeks (the longer period applies) prior to initiation of study treatment.
17. Current treatment with a non-topical medication or current intake of herbal preparations / supplements / foods known to be a strong inhibitor of CYP3A4. However, patients who either discontinue such treatment/intake or switch to another medication at least 7 days prior to starting study treatment are eligible.
18. Concomitant use of St. John's Wort (hypericum perforatum).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: neoadjuvant and adjuvant triplet combination of encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab; Neoadjuvant treatment with encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab for up to 8 weeks (4 biweekly cycles). In Week 10-12 surgery of the tumor followed by central determination of tumor regression grade (TRG). TRG0-1: insufficient response to neoadjuvant triplet. Standard chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin should be applied. TRG2-4: 4-8 weeks after surgery adjuvant treatment with encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab continues for up to 16 Weeks (8 biweekly cycles).

Drug: Binimetinib; Triplet combination administered neoadjuvant and adjuvant, depending on TRG; Other Names: Cetuximab; Encorafenib

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tumor regression grade (TRG)	Tumor regression will be centrally graded according to the grading system developed by Dworak et al (Dworak, Keilholz et al. 1997).	immediately after the surgery

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Safety and tolerability (acc. to NCI CTC AE v5.0) incl. vital signs, clinical parameters and overall feasibility of the regimen	Safety assessments will include physical examinations including visual and skin assessment as well as vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate), performance status (ECOG), clinical laboratory profile, 12-lead ECG and ECHO, ophthalmologic assessment, concomitant medication/therapies/procedures and adverse events. All observed adverse events will be graded according to NCI CTCAE v5. Adverse events will be analysed overall and concerning their potential relationship to study treatment and surgical intervention. Serious adverse events (SAE) will be analysed in the same way.	max 54 months
Perioperative morbidity and mortality	Perioperative morbidity and mortality are defined as prolongation of hospitalization (discharge >20 days after surgery), re-hospitalization or reoperation under general anaesthesia within 30 days of surgery or death during surgery or within 30 days of surgery; Other severe postoperative complications within 30 days of surgery including surgery-associated bleeding with replacement ≥ 4 units of erythrocyte concentrates, transient liver failure, defined as a bilirubin level >10 mg/dL lasting > 7 days, renal failure requiring dialysis, respiratory failure with renewed necessary mechanical ventilation or >26 h, necessary mechanical ventilation, deep venous thromboembolism, cardiac failure, major impaired wound healing necessitating re-operation or prolonging hospitalization (discharge >20 days after surgery); >8 weeks delay of surgery due to study treatment-related toxicity; and further.	max 24 months
R0-resection rate	The R0 resection rate will be determined as the rate of R0 resections out of all resected patients. In addition, the R1 and/or R2 resection rates will be determined.	max 24 months
Overall Response Rate (ORR) according to RECIST v1.1	Response rate to preoperative treatment will be assessed according to RECIST v1.1.	max 54 months
Disease free survival	Disease free survival will be determined as time from start of study treatment to date of first observed disease recurrence (either local or distant) or death from any cause.	max 54 months
Overall survival (OS)	Overall survival will be determined as time from start of study treatment to date of death from any cause.	max 54 months
Translational research 1	Correlation of quantitative BRAF V600E levels (measured by ddPCR) with TRG	max 54 months
Translational research 2	Evaluation of mechanism of relative resistance in patients with less response (evaluated by tumor and liquid biopsy NGS profiling at baseline and after treatment)	max 54 months
Translational research 3	Comparison of ctDNA clearance and TRG with a BRAF mutant/pMMR cohort from the planned neoadjuvant PROTECTOR study receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy	max 54 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: AIO-Studien-gGmbH
• Collaborators: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; Merck Serono GmbH, Germany; Pierre Fabre Pharma GmbH
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Alexander Stein, Prof. Dr., Hämatologisch-Onkologische Praxis Eppendorf, 20249 Hamburg, Germany

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Working Group for Medical Oncology from the German Cancer Society
• AIO-Studien-gGmbH

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 31, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 17, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 18, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): August 22, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): October 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 30, 2025
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Colonic Neoplasms; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Cetuximab; encorafenib; binimetinib
• Other Study ID Numbers: AIO-KRK-0420

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