Testing the Addition of Anti-cancer Drug, ZEN003694, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment, Cetuximab Plus Encorafenib, for Colorectal Cancer

A Phase 1 Study of ZEN003694 (ZEN-3694) in Combination With Cetuximab and Encorafenib in Patients With Refractory BRAF V600E Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

This phase I trial tests the safety, best dose, and effectiveness of ZEN003694 in combination with cetuximab and encorafenib in treating patients with colorectal cancer that has not responded to previous treatment (refractory), that has come back after a period of improvement (relapsed), and that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). ZEN003694 is a protein inhibitor that binds to BET proteins. When ZEN003694 binds to BET proteins, it disrupts gene expression. Preventing the expression of certain growth-promoting genes may inhibit proliferation of tumor cells that over-express BET proteins. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, may help the body's immune system attack the tumor, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Encorafenib is an enzyme inhibitor. It inhibits pathways that are responsible for controlling cell proliferation and survival, which may lead to a decrease in tumor cell proliferation. Both cetuximab and encorafenib have been approved to treat cancer. Adding ZEN003694 to cetuximab and encorafenib may be more effective at treating patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer than giving the usual treatment (cetuximab and encorafenib) alone.

Study Overview

• Status: Suspended
• Conditions: Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma; Refractory Colorectal Adenocarcinoma; Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8; Recurrent Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Drug: BET Bromodomain Inhibitor ZEN-3694; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Drug: Encorafenib; Procedure: Multigated Acquisition Scan; Biological: Cetuximab; Procedure: Echocardiography Test; Procedure: Biopsy Procedure

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To define the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of BET bromodomain inhibitor ZEN-3694 (ZEN003694) when used in combination with cetuximab and encorafenib.

II. To define the safety profile of combination of ZEN003694, encorafenib, and cetuximab.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To observe and record anti-tumor activity. II. To evaluate clinical response signals of the combination. III. To assess the pharmacodynamic (PD) profile of the combination as defined by MAPK inhibition.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To characterize pharmacodynamics and potential mechanisms of resistance to therapy via whole exome sequencing (WES), reverse phase protein array (RPPA), ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNAseq), and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATACseq)/HiSeq 4000 or NovaSeq following progression on treatment.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study of ZEN003694 followed by a dose-expansion study.

Patients receive ZEN003694 orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-28 of each cycle, cetuximab intravenously (IV) over 120 minutes on days 1 and 15 of each cycle, and encorafenib PO QD on days 1-28 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo echocardiography (ECHO) or multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA), computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and collection of blood samples throughout the trial. Patients may also undergo biopsy at screening and on study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 2 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Irvine, California, United States, 92612
      • UCI Health - Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • USC / Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • Los Angeles General Medical Center
    • Orange, California, United States, 92868
      • UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Colorado
    • Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045
      • UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital
  • Kansas
    • Fairway, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • University of Kansas Clinical Research Center
    • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
      • University of Kansas Cancer Center
    • Overland Park, Kansas, United States, 66211
      • University of Kansas Hospital-Indian Creek Campus
    • Westwood, Kansas, United States, 66205
      • University of Kansas Hospital-Westwood Cancer Center
  • Louisiana
    • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70121
      • Ochsner Medical Center Jefferson
  • Ohio
    • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
      • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73104
      • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • M D Anderson Cancer Center
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • University of Virginia Cancer Center
    • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
      • VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically confirmed and radiographically measurable metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma with known BRAF V600E mutation, confirmed in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified laboratory with at least one tumor measurable as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, and for which standard curative or palliative measures do not exist or are no longer effective
• Age ≥ 18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of ZEN003694 in combination with cetuximab and encorafenib in patients < 18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 (Karnofsky ≥ 60%)
• Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL
• Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL
• Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 9 mg/dl
• Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dl (excluding Gilbert's disease)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT])/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 3 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
• Creatinine clearance (CrCL) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 50 mL/min/1.73 m^2
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
• For patients with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated
• Patients with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
• Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if follow-up brain imaging after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression
• Patients with new or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases) or leptomeningeal disease are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy
• Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
• Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. Patients should be New York Heart Association Functional Classification of class II or better
• Patients must have progressed after at least 1 prior systemic treatment for incurable advanced or metastatic disease
• Patients must have received prior treatment with the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab. They must have tolerated the combination at doses planned for the study
• The effects of ZEN003694 on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because BRD and BET inhibitor agents as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for at least 4 months following the last dose of study drug. Women must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of human chorionic gonadotropin [HCG]) within 72 hours prior to the start of investigational product. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Legally authorized representatives may sign and give informed consent on behalf of study participants

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have not recovered from adverse events due to prior anti-cancer therapy (i.e., have residual toxicities > grade 1) with the exception of alopecia
• Patients who are receiving any other investigational agents
• History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ZEN003694 or other agents used in study
• Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, active bleeding diatheses, poorly controlled infection/disorders, or nonmalignant medical illnesses that are uncontrolled or whose control may be jeopardized by the treatment with the study therapy
• Patients receiving any medications or substances that are strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 or substrates of CYP1A2 with narrow therapeutic windows are ineligible. Strong inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 must be discontinued at least 7 days prior to the first dose of ZEN003694. As proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 receptor antagonists, and antacids may alter the pharmacokinetics of ZEN003694 by reducing ZEN003694 exposure, patients receiving proton pump inhibitors are ineligible. If H2 blockers or other acid reducing agents are used concomitantly with ZEN003694, a staggered dosing schedule should be used, either dose ZEN003694 2 hours before the H2 blocker or 10-12 hours after an H2 blocker. Because the lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated medical reference. As part of the enrollment/informed consent procedures, the patient will be counseled on the risk of interactions with other agents, and what to do if new medications need to be prescribed or if the patient is considering a new over-the-counter medicine or herbal product
• Pregnant women are excluded from this study because ZEN003694 is BRD and BET inhibitor agent with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with ZEN003694, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with ZEN003694. These potential risks may also apply to other agents used in this study

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: Treatment (ZEN003694, cetuximab, encorafenib); Patients receive ZEN003694 PO QD on days 1-28 of each cycle, cetuximab IV over 120 minutes on days 1 and 15 of each cycle, and encorafenib PO QD on days 1-28 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo ECHO or MUGA, CT or MRI, and collection of blood samples throughout the trial. Patients may also undergo biopsy at screening and on study.

Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo collection of blood samples; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Biospecimen Collected; Specimen Collection; Sample Collection; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Undergo MRI; Other Names: MRI; Magnetic Resonance; Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan; Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance; MR; MR Imaging; MRI Scan; NMR Imaging; NMRI; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI); sMRI; Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure); MRIs; Structural MRI; Drug: BET Bromodomain Inhibitor ZEN-3694; Given PO; Other Names: BETi ZEN-3694; ZEN 3694; ZEN-3694; ZEN003694; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo CT; Other Names: CT; CAT; CAT Scan; Computed Axial Tomography; Computerized Axial Tomography; Computerized Tomography; CT Scan; tomography; Computerized axial tomography (procedure); Computerized Tomography (CT) scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type; Drug: Encorafenib; Given PO; Other Names: Braftovi; LGX 818; LGX-818; LGX818; Procedure: Multigated Acquisition Scan; Undergo MUGA; Other Names: Blood Pool Scan; Equilibrium Radionuclide Angiography; Gated Blood Pool Imaging; MUGA; Radionuclide Ventriculography; RNVG; SYMA Scanning; Synchronized Multigated Acquisition Scanning; MUGA Scan; Multi-Gated Acquisition Scan; Radionuclide Ventriculogram Scan; Gated Heart Pool Scan; RNV Scan; Biological: Cetuximab; Given IV; Other Names: C225; Erbitux; IMC-C225; Cetuximab Biosimilar CDP-1; Cetuximab Biosimilar CMAB009; Cetuximab Biosimilar KL 140; Chimeric Anti-EGFR Monoclonal Antibody; Chimeric MoAb C225; Chimeric Monoclonal Antibody C225; C-225; C 225; Procedure: Echocardiography Test; Undergo ECHO; Other Names: Echocardiography; EC; Procedure: Biopsy Procedure; Undergo biopsy; Other Names: Bx; BIOPSY_TYPE; Biopsy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximum tolerated dose (dose escalation cohort)	Will be determined based on the number of grade 3 or 4 adverse events in patients who participate on the study. Toxicities will be graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v 5.0).	Up to completion of dose escalation phase
Recommended phase 2 dose (dose escalation cohort)	Will be determined based on the number of grade 3 or 4 adverse events in patients who participate on the study. Toxicities will be graded according to CTCAE v 5.0.	Up to completion of dose escalation phase

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to progression	Will be estimated according to Kaplan-Meier analysis.	Time between consent onto study and progression, withdraw, or death, assessed up to 1 year
Time to death	Will be estimated according to Kaplan-Meier analysis.	Time between consent onto study and death, assessed up to 1 year
MAPK inhibition	MAPK inhibition, measured by phosphorylated ERK pharmacodynamic profiling, will be evaluated to determine efficacy of the combination.	Up to 1 year

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Presence or absence of a given gene mutation	The presence or absence of a given gene mutation will be evaluated by next-generation sequencing.	At pre-treatment and post-progression

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Salvador Alonso Martinez, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center LAO

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lee HM, Zheng Z, Sorokin A, Wong CW, Napolitano S, Chowdhury S, Kanikarla PM, Singh AK, Kochat V, Bristow CA, Srinivasan S, Peoples M, Arslan E, Alshenaifi JY, Villarreal OE, Morris VK, Shen JP, Meric-Bernstam F, Jain AK, Fowlkes NW, Anderson A, Menter DG, Saw AK, Rai K, Kopetz S. Reprogramming of Cellular Plasticity via ETS and MYC Core-regulatory Circuits During Response to MAPK Inhibition in BRAF-mutant Colorectal Cancer. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Jun 20:2025.06.15.659716. doi: 10.1101/2025.06.15.659716.
• Lee HM, Zheng Z, Sorokin A, Wong CW, Napolitano S, Chowdhury S, Kanikarla PM, Singh AK, Kochat V, Bristow CA, Srinivasan S, Peoples M, Arslan E, Alshenaifi JY, Villarreal OE, Morris VK, Shen JP, Meric-Bernstam F, Jain AK, Fowlkes NW, Anderson A, Menter DG, Saw AK, Rai K, Kopetz S. Reprogramming of Cellular Plasticity via ETS and MYC Core-regulatory Circuits During Response to MAPK Inhibition in BRAF-mutant Colorectal Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2026 May 8. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-25-4370. Online ahead of print.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 5, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 30, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 25, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 25, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 26, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

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; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Cytological Techniques; Cytodiagnosis; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Spectrum Analysis; Cetuximab; Biopsy; Specimen Handling; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; encorafenib; (225)Ac-DOTA-c(RGDyK)
• Other Study ID Numbers: NCI-2023-08787 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program)); UM1CA186688 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); 10605 (Other Identifier: CTEP); 2024-0120

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No