Dual EGFR/HER2 Blockade Combined With Irinotecan for the Treatment of HER2-Positive Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

NCT ID: NCT07059338

Last Updated: 2025-07-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 34 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-07-11
• Study Completion Date: 2028-12-30

Brief Summary

In colorectal cancer (CRC), HER2 has emerged as a critically targeted biomarker in recent years. Although multiple clinical trials have demonstrated the potential of HER2-targeted therapies in HER2-positive (overexpressed/amplified) metastatic CRC (mCRC), the duration of treatment response remains short with rapid disease progression. This underscores the urgent need to develop novel therapeutic strategies for HER2-positive mCRC. The EGFR pathway is constitutively activated in CRC and mediates resistance to HER2-targeted therapies through the formation of EGFR-HER2 heterodimers. Notably, EGFR-targeting antibodies combined with irinotecan can reverse irinotecan chemoresistance. Building upon these mechanisms, this study proposes to evaluate the combination of trastuzumab (anti-HER2), cetuximab beta (anti-EGFR), and irinotecan in chemotherapy-refractory HER2-positive mCRC.

Detailed Description

In colorectal cancer (CRC), HER2 has emerged as a significant therapeutic target, with clinical studies demonstrating promising yet transient responses to HER2-targeted therapies in HER2-positive (overexpressed/amplified) advanced cases, highlighting the need for improved strategies. Mechanistically, in the 65-75% of CRCs exhibiting EGFR overexpression, HER2 promotes heterodimerization with EGFR, impairing internalization of HER2-targeted ADCs and reducing drug uptake. Preclinical evidence suggests EGFR monoclonal antibodies (cetuximab/panitumumab) may overcome this limitation by inducing EGFR internalization and enhancing HER2-targeted drug efficacy. However, HER2-positive advanced CRC lacks validated predictive biomarkers and thorough translational research. Our study will clinically evaluate trastuzumab plus cetuximab and irinotecan in this population, while performing longitudinal biomarker analyses of paired blood and tumor samples to identify response predictors, elucidate resistance mechanisms, and optimize this promising therapeutic approach.

Conditions

HER2 Positive; Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Trastuzumab +Cetuximab β+Irinotecan

Treatment regimen: All agents will be administered via intravenous infusion, consisting of trastuzumab (4 mg/kg every 2 weeks), cetuximab beta (500 mg/m² every 2 weeks) in combination with irinotecan (180 mg/m² every 2 weeks). Comprehensive radiological and laboratory assessments will be conducted after every 4 treatment cycles (8 weeks).

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Trastuzumab +Cetuximab β+Irinotecan

Intervention Type: DRUG

Trastuzumab 4 mg/kg , Cetuximab β: 500 mg/m² ,Irinotecan 180 mg/m², repeat once every 2 weeks

Interventions

Trastuzumab +Cetuximab β+Irinotecan

Trastuzumab 4 mg/kg , Cetuximab β: 500 mg/m² ,Irinotecan 180 mg/m², repeat once every 2 weeks

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

HER2 and EGFR dual-targeted therapy combined with irinotecan

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Signed and dated informed consent must be obtained voluntarily from the subject prior to performing any study-related procedures (non-routine care), in accordance with regulatory and institutional guidelines.
• 18 to 75 years of age, inclusive.
• Histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum with evidence of distant metastasis.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
• HER2-positive tumor with wild-type KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF genes confirmed by testing at any time prior to screening. HER2 positivity is defined as: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showing HER2 3+ staining in >50% of tumor cells; or HER2 2+ by IHC with positive fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH): HER2/CEP17 ratio ≥2.0 in >50% of tumor cells; or Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of tissue or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) demonstrating HER2 copy number ≥6.
• Adequate organ function as evidenced by:

Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.5×10^9/L Platelet count ≥75×10^9/L Serum total bilirubin ≤1.5×upper normal limit (UNL) Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5×UNL Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5×UNL Serum creatinine ≤1.5×UNL

• Disease progression after prior treatment with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, including: Subjects who received oxaliplatin in the adjuvant setting must have experienced disease progression within 6 months after completing adjuvant therapy.Patients who decline standard therapy due to intolerable toxicity are eligible.
• Presence of at least one measurable lesion per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1.
• Willing and able to comply with the study protocol and visit schedule

Exclusion Criteria

• Known KRAS, NRAS, or BRAF mutations detected by ctDNA testing prior to enrollment; or tumors with mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H).
• Concurrent intestinal obstruction, active bleeding, or perforation requiring emergency surgery.
• Major surgery (e.g., laparotomy, thoracotomy, or organ resection via laparoscopy) or significant trauma within 4 weeks prior to study entry (surgical incision must be fully healed before enrollment).
• Active coronary artery disease within 12 months before screening, including severe/unstable angina, newly diagnosed angina, or myocardial infarction.
• History of thrombosis or embolism within 6 months, including cerebrovascular accident (transient ischemic attack included), pulmonary embolism, or deep vein thrombosis.
• Congestive heart failure classified as New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or higher.
• HIV infection or AIDS; untreated active hepatitis (HBV-DNA ≥500 IU/mL for hepatitis B; detectable HCV-RNA for hepatitis C); or HBV/HCV co-infection.
• Interstitial lung disease, non-infectious pneumonitis, or uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, acute pneumonia).
• Persistent ≥Grade 2 toxicities (per CTCAE v5.0) from prior therapies (excluding peripheral neuropathy, anemia, alopecia, or skin hyperpigmentation).
• Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any study drugs.
• Pregnancy or lactation.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Sun Yat-sen University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Yanhong Deng

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University

Guangzhou, , China

Countries

China

Central Contacts

Yanhong Deng

Role: CONTACT

13925106525@163.com

86-13925106525

Facility Contacts

Yanhong Deng

Role: primary

dengyanh@mail.sysu.edu.cn

86+13925106525

Other Identifiers

2025ZSLYEC-160

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id