Circulating tumor DNA driving anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: the RASINTRO prospective multicenter study

Abstract

Background In RAS wild-type (WT) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), preliminary data have suggested that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) may select patients for anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy. Methods RASINTRO is a prospective nonrandomized study evaluating anti-EGFR rechallenge strategy in third and later line treatment in RAS/BRAF WT mCRC. Liquid biopsies for ctDNA analysis were collected before the first (C1) and second (C2) cycle of anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy. The primary endpoint was the progression-free survival (PFS) according to RAS/BRAF mutational status on ctDNA at C1. Results Among 74 patients screened between November 2017 to March 2020, 62 were enrolled median age, 66.1 years; median number of previous lines of therapy, 3; panitumumab or cetuximab rechallenge alone (66.2%) or with chemotherapy (33.8%); ctDNA RAS/BRAF status at C1, 42 WT (67.7%) and 20 mutated (32.3%). Median PFS (3.3 vs 1.9 months: HR = 0.43; P < .01) and OS (7.9 vs 4.9 months: HR = 0.46; P = .01) were significantly longer for patients with ctDNA RAS/BRAF WT vs mutated at C1. Among the 32 patients with ctDNA RAS/BRAF WT at C1 and available blood samples at C2, those who have experienced an early decrease of more than 50% in ctDNA concentration (n = 15) had a significantly longer median PFS (4.2 vs 2.8 months; HR = 0.39; P = .01) and OS (10.2 vs 4.2 months; HR = 0.39; P = .02). Conclusion This study showed that anti-EGFR rechallenge therapy in refractory disease is more effective in patients with RAS/BRAF WT on ctDNA, and in those who experienced an early decrease of more 50% in ctDNA concentration. (NCT03259009)