A phase II randomized clinical study of the combination of avelumab plus cetuximab as rechallenge strategy in pre-treated RAS/BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients

2024-519481-44-00 Protocol CAVE-2 Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II) Ongoing, recruiting

Start 8 Jan 2025 · Status Ongoing, recruiting · 1 EU/EEA countries · 27 sites · Protocol CAVE-2

Overview

Sponsor-declared trial summary

Phase Therapeutic exploratory (Phase II)
Status Ongoing, recruiting
Participants planned 173
Countries 1
Sites 27

colorectal metastatic cancer

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy (in terms of Overall Survival - OS) of avelumab and cetuximab combined in pre-treated RAS, BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients compared to cetuximab alone.

Key facts

Sponsor
Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale
Participant type
Patients
Age range
18-64 years, 65+ years
Gender
Male and Female
Therapeutic area
Diseases [C] - Neoplasms [C04]
Trial duration
8 Jan 2025 → ongoing
Decision date (initial)
2025-01-08
Transition trial
Yes
Low-intervention
No
Rare-disease indication
No
Vulnerable population
No

External identifiers

EU CT number
2024-519481-44-00
EudraCT number
2021-004593-56
ClinicalTrials.gov
NCT05291156

Trial design

CTIS Part I — objectives, methods, condition coding

Main objective

Scope: Efficacy, Safety

The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy (in terms of Overall Survival - OS) of avelumab and
cetuximab combined in pre-treated RAS, BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients compared to
cetuximab alone.

Secondary objectives 3

  1. To demonstrate superiority with regard to the Objective Response Rate (ORR) of avelumab and cetuximab combined in pre-treated RAS, BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients compared to cetuximab alone.
  2. To demonstrate superiority with regard to Progression Free Survival (PFS) of avelumab and cetuximab combined in pre-treated RAS, BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients compared to cetuximab alone
  3. • To determine the safety and tolerability of avelumab and cetuximab combined in pre-treated RAS/BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients compared to cetuximab alone

Conditions and MedDRA coding

colorectal metastatic cancer

Regulatory references

Plan to share IPD
No
EU CT numberTitleSponsor
2024-518472-31-00 A phase II randomized clinical study of the combination of avelumab plus cetuximab as rechallenge strategy in pre-treated RAS/BRAF wild type metastatic colorectal cancer patients Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale

Eligibility criteria

Principal inclusion / exclusion criteria as submitted by sponsor

Inclusion criteria 15

  1. Signed written informed consent before any trial-related procedure is undertaken that is not part of the standard patient management
  2. Male or female subjects aged ≥ 18 years.
  3. Histologically proven diagnosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma.
  4. Diagnosis of metastatic disease.
  5. RAS (NRAS and KRAS exon 2,3 and 4) and BRAF wild-type in liquid biopsy at initial diagnosis (according to NGS, Foundation/Roche).
  6. Efficacy of a first line therapy containing anti-EGFR drug with a major response achieved (i.e. complete or partial response according to RECIST criteria v1.1).
  7. Received a second line therapy.
  8. More than 4 months since the last dose of anti-EGFR drug administered in first line treatment before randomization.
  9. Measurable disease according to RECIST criteria v1.1.
  10. ECOG PS of 0 to 1 at trial entry.
  11. Estimated life expectancy of more than 12 weeks.
  12. Adequate hematological function defined by white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 2.5 × 109 /L with absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109 /L, lymphocyte count ≥ 0.5 × 109 /L, platelet count ≥ 100 × 109 /L, and hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (may have been transfused).
  13. Adequate hepatic function defined by a total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN) range and AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels ≤ 2.5 × ULN for all subjects or AST and ALT levels ≤ 5 x ULN (for subjects with documented metastatic disease to the liver).
  14. Adequate renal function defined by an estimated creatinine clearance > 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula (or local institutional standard method).
  15. Effective contraception for both male and female subjects throughout the study and for at least 2 months after last study treatment administration if the risk of conception exists (Note: The effects of the trial drug on the developing human fetus are unknown; thus, women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use effective contraception, defined as 2 barrier methods, or 1 barrier method with a spermicide, an intrauterine device, or use of oral female contraceptive. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this trial, the treating physician should be informed immediately).

Exclusion criteria 20

  1. Any contraindication to cetuximab and/or avelumab
  2. Past or current history of malignancies other than colorectal carcinoma, except for curatively treated basal and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix.
  3. Pregnancy.
  4. Breastfeeding.
  5. Participation in a clinical study or experimental drug treatment within 30 days before enrollment
  6. Subjects receiving immunosuppressive agents (such as steroids) for any reason, should be tapered off these drugs before initiation of the trial treatment, with the exception of: - Subjects with adrenal insufficiency, who may continue corticosteroids at physiologic replacement dose, equivalent to ≤ 10 mg prednisone daily - Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, - Local steroid injection (e.g., intra-articular injection) - Systemic corticosteroids at physiologic doses ≤ 10 mg/day of prednisone or equivalent - Steroids as premedication for hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., CT scan premedication)
  7. All subjects with brain metastases, except those meeting the following criteria: - Brain metastases have been treated locally - No ongoing neurological symptoms related to the brain localization of the disease (sequelae that are a consequence of the treatment of the brain metastases are acceptable)
  8. Prior organ transplantation, including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation
  9. Significant acute or chronic infections including, among others: - Known history of positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or known acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection at screening (positive HBV surface antigen or HCV RNA if anti-HCV antibody screening test positive)
  10. Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immunostimulatory agent: - Subjects with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo- or hyperthyroid disease not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible. - Subjects requiring hormone replacement with corticosteroids are eligible if steroids are administered only for the purpose of hormonal replacement and at doses ≤ 10 mg or equivalent prednisone per day. - Administration of steroids through a route known to result in a minimal systemic exposure (topical, intranasal, intro-ocular, or inhalation) are acceptable. - Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  11. . Previous or ongoing administration of systemic steroids for the management of an acute allergic phenomenon is acceptable as long as it is anticipated that the administration of steroids will be completed in 14 days, or that the daily dose after 14 days will be ≤ 10 mg per day of equivalent prednisone.
  12. Known severe hypersensitivity to investigational product or any component in its formulations, including known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (NCI CTCAE v 5 Grade ≥ 3), any history of anaphylaxis, or uncontrolled asthma (that is, 3 or more features of partially controlled asthma).
  13. History of hypersensitivity to Polysorbate 80 that led to unacceptable toxicity requiring treatment cessation
  14. Persisting toxicity related to prior therapy of Grade > 1 NCI- CTCAE v 5.0.
  15. Known alcohol or drug abuse.
  16. . Clinically significant (that is active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke (<6 months prior to enrollment), myocardial infarction (<6 months prior to enrollment), unstable angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Classification Class ≥ II), or serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.
  17. History of keratitis, ulcerative keratitis or severe dry eye. Since contact lent use is also a risk factor for keratitis and ulceration, it is not recommended
  18. Other severe acute or chronic medical conditions including immune colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis or psychiatric conditions including recent (within the past year) or active suicidal ideation or behavior; or laboratory abnormalities that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study treatment administration or may interfere with the interpretation of study results and, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study.
  19. Vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of avelumab and cetuximab and while on treatment is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccine (i.e. inactivated influenza vaccine).
  20. Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity.

Endpoints

Primary and secondary outcome measures (English text)

Primary endpoints 1

  1. The primary endpoint for the trial is OS time, defined as the interval from enrollment to death for every cause

Secondary endpoints 3

  1. The overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST 1.1 defined as the proportion of patients who have a partial or complete response to therapy
  2. Progression free survival (PFS) according to RECIST 1.1 defined as the time from random assignment in the clinical trial to disease progression or death from any cause.
  3. Safety endpoints include AEs, assessed throughout the trial and evaluated using the NCI- CTCAE version 5.0 (CTCAE v 5.0), clinical laboratory assessments, vital signs, and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters

Investigational products

Investigational medicinal products (IMPs), comparators, placebo, auxiliary

Test 2

Cetuximab

SUB01178MIG · Substance

Active substance
Cetuximab
Pharmaceutical form
SOLUTION FOR INFUSION
Route of administration
IV INFUSION
Max daily dose
400 mg/m2 milligram(s)/sq. meter
Max total dose
13000 mg/m2 milligram(s)/square meter
Max treatment duration
12 Month(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
- — -
Marketing authorisation
-
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
Yes
Modification description
re-packaging and labelling for the clinical trial

Avelumab

SUB180078 · Substance

Active substance
Avelumab
Pharmaceutical form
CONCENTRATE FOR SOLUTION FOR INFUSION
Route of administration
IV INFUSION
Max daily dose
800 mg/ml milligram(s)/millilitre
Max total dose
20000 mg/ml milligram(s)/millilitre
Max treatment duration
12 Month(s)
Authorisation status
Authorised
ATC code
- — -
Marketing authorisation
-
Paediatric formulation
No
Orphan designation
No
Modified vs. Marketing Authorisation
Yes
Modification description
re-packaging and labelling for the clinical trial

Sponsors and contacts

Sponsor organisations, regulatory contacts, third parties

Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale

4 Total trials 4 Recruiting
Academic / Non-commercial
Sponsor organisation
Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale
Address
Viale John Fitzgerald Kennedy 50
City
Bari
Postcode
70124
Country
Italy

Scientific contact point

Organisation
Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale
Contact name
Fortunato Ciardiello

Public contact point

Organisation
Gruppo Oncologico Dell'Italia Meridionale
Contact name
Fortunato Ciardiello

Locations

1 EU/EEA country · 27 investigational sites

By country

CountryMS statusPlanned subjectsSites
Italy Ongoing, recruiting 173 27
Rest of world 0

Investigational sites

Italy

27 sites · Ongoing, recruiting
Ospedale Vito Fazzi Lecce
U.O. Oncologia Medica, Piazza Filippo Muratore 1, 73100, Lecce
AORN San Giuseppe Moscati Avellino
U.O.C. Oncologia Medica, Contrada Amoretta, 83100, Avellino
IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino
Oncologia Medica 1, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132, Genoa
National Institute Of Gastroenterology Saverio De Bellis Research Hospital
U.O. Oncologia Medica, Via Turi 27, 70013, Castellana Grotte
Pia Fondazione Di Culto E Religione Card G Panico
U.O.C. Oncologia, Via Pio X 4, 73039, Tricase
Casa Sollievo Della Sofferenza
U.O.C. Oncologia, Viale Convento Cappuccini 1, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone
U.O.C. di Oncologia Medica, Via Del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo
Ospedale ' Civile Maria Paterno' Arezzo
Oncologia Medica, Contrada Rito, 97100, Ragusa
Ospedale S G Moscati
U.O.C. Oncologia Medica, Via Per Martina Franca, 74010, Statte
ARNAS Garibaldi Di Catania
U.O.C. Oncologia Medica, Piazza Santa Maria Di Gesu, 95123, Catania
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Universita' Degli Studi Della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
U.O.C. Oncoematologia, Via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131, Naples
ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli
U.O. Oncologia Medica, Piazza Nicola Leotta 4, 90127, Palermo
Fondazione Poliambulanza
U.O. Oncologia, Via Leonida Bissolati 57, 25124, Brescia
ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda
Oncologia Medica Falck, Piazza Dell'ospedale Maggiore 3, 20162, Milan
Azienda Sanitaria Locale Napoli 1 Centro
U.O.C. Oncologia, Via Enrico Russo 1, 80147, Naples
Azienda USL IRCCS Di Reggio Emilia
S.C. Oncologia Provinciale, Viale Risorgimento 80, 42123, Reggio Emilia
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
U.O.C. Oncologia Medica, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome
Istituto Romagnolo Per Lo Studio Dei Tumori Dino Amadori IRST S.r.l.
S.C. Oncologia Medica, Via Piero Maroncelli 40, 47014, Meldola
Istituto Europeo Di Oncologia S.r.l.
Div. Oncologia Medica Gastrointestinale e Tumori Neuroendocrini, Via Giuseppe Ripamonti 435, 20141, Milan
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona
Oncologia Medica, Piazzale Ludovico Antonio Scuro 10, 37134, Verona
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Di Sassari
U.O.C. di Oncologia Medica, Via Michele Coppino 26, 07100, Sassari
Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori
OM1 - Oncologia Medica 1, Via Giacomo Venezian 1, 20133, Milan
Azienda Ospedaliera Ordine Mauriziano Di Torino
S.C.D.U. Oncologia, Via Ferdinando Magellano 1, 10128, Turin
IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Pascale
S.C. Oncologia Clinica Sperimentale Addome, Via Mariano Semmola 52, 80131, Naples
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Umberto I G M Lancisi G Salesi
S.O.D. Clinica Oncologica, Via Filippo Corridoni 11, 60123, Ancona
Centro Di Riferimento Oncologico Di Aviano
S.O.C. Oncologia Medica e Prevenzione Oncologica, Via Franco Gallini 2, 33081, Aviano
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi
Oncologia Medica, Largo Giovanni Alessandro Brambilla 3, 50134, Florence

Country notifications

Trial-start, recruitment-start, end and early-termination notifications submitted per Member State

Country Trial startTrial end Recruitment startRecruitment end Early termination
Italy 2025-01-08 2025-01-08

Oversight and notifications

Regulatory notifications under CTR Articles 38, 52, 53, 54 and 77

Corrective measures 1 · Art. 77 CTR

Corrective measure CM-IT-0001

Member state
Italy
Publication date
2026-01-27
Type
1
Reason
6
Reverted date
2026-01-27
Immediate action required
Yes
Notes
Reverted (2026-01-27)
Justification
Dear Applicant,
It was ascertained that the Territorial Ethics Committee due to technical issue did not assess the documentation submitted for the SM-03 EU CT 2024-519481-44-00 procedure (AIFA authorization provision n° 0010987-20/01/2026-AIFA-AIFA_USC-P).
Therefore, in compliance with CHAPTER XIII (SUPERVISION BY MEMBER STATES, UNION INSPECTIONS AND CONTROLS) of Regulation 536/2014 with specific reference to Article 77 (Corrective measures to be taken by Member States):
1. Where a Member State concerned has justified grounds for considering that the requirements set out in this Regulation are no longer met, it may take the following measures on its territory:
(a) revoke the authorisation of a clinical trial;
(b) suspend a clinical trial;
(c) require the sponsor to modify any aspect of the clinical trial.
A corrective measure is applied suspending the trial. This corrective measure is only applicable to Italy.

Results and documents

Annex IV summary of results, Annex V layperson summary, and all documents registered in CTIS for this trial

Documents 13 files

Public protocol annexes, IB summaries, regulatory submissions and post-authorisation documents registered in CTIS.

TypeTitleVersion
Protocol (for publication) CAVE-2_Study Protocol v3_11Jul2022 1
Protocol (for publication) D1 CAVE-2-Study Protocol v5_17Apr2025 Clean_FP 5
Protocol (for publication) D1 CAVE-2-Study Protocol v5_17Apr2025TC_FP 5
Recruitment arrangements (for publication) K1_Recruitment arrangements - Italy_v1_02Oct2024 1
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) CAVE-2-FCI_v3_03Nov2023 3
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) CAVE-2-Lettera MMG v3_03Nov2023 3
Subject information and informed consent form (for publication) CAVE2 Istruzioni per la raccolta delle feci_v1_07Oct2021 1
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) (for publication) RCP-IMP-Avelumab_14Feb2024 1
Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) (for publication) RCP-IMP-cetuximab_17May2023 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) CAVE-2_Sinossi in italiano v3_11Jul2022 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) D1 CAVE-2-Sinossi in italiano per laypersons v_1_17Mar2025 1
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) D1 CAVE-2-Sinossi in italiano v5_17Apr2025 Clean 5
Synopsis of the protocol (for publication) D1 CAVE-2-Sinossi in italiano v5_17Apr2025TC 5

Application history

4 submissions — initial application plus substantial / non-substantial modifications

#TypeCodeSubmittedReference MSConclusionDecision date
1 INITIAL IN 2024-11-05 Italy Acceptable
2024-12-10
2025-01-08
2 SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION SM-1 2025-01-29 Italy Acceptable
2025-05-05
2025-05-05
3 SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION SM-2 2025-07-15 Italy Acceptable 2025-07-29
4 SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATION SM-3 2025-11-17 Italy Acceptable
2026-01-09
2026-01-21