The first phase II clinical study that evaluates the pathologic complete response rate following short-course radiation, and then mFOLFOX-6 chemotherapy protocol combined with avelumab (immunotherapy) in patients with locally-advanced rectal adenocarcinoma before undergoing a Total Mesorectal Excision (TME).
Adult Patients with locally-advanced, potentially resectable newly diagnosed rectal adenocarcinoma
Patients aged ≥18 years.
Locally-advanced rectal cancer (cT2 N1-3, cT3 N0-3, evidence of extramural vascular or mesorectal fascia involvement).
<12 cm from anal verge.
Histologically proven rectal adenocarcinoma.
ECOG performance score ≤ 1.
Have adequate organ function by meeting the following:
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109/L;
Platelet count ≥ 100 × 109/L;
Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL;
Total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN) range;
AST and ALT levels ≤ 2.5 × ULN or AST and ALT levels ≤ 5 x ULN (for subjects with documented metastatic disease to the liver);
Estimated creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula (or local institutional standard method).
7. Negative serum or urine pregnancy test at screening for women of childbearing potential.
8. Highly effective contraception for both male and female subjects throughout the study and for at least 30 days after last avelumab treatment administration if the risk of conception exists.
Distant metastasis (M1).
Patients with T2 N0 or T4.
Recurrent rectal cancer.
Symptoms or history of peripheral neuropathy.
Prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Current use of immunosuppressive medication, except for the following:
Intranasal, inhaled, topical steroids, or 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).
Active autoimmune disease that might deteriorate when receiving an immuno-stimulatory agent. Patients with diabetes type I, vitiligo, psoriasis, or hypo- or hyperthyroid diseases not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible.
Vaccination within 4 weeks of the first dose of avelumab and while on trials is prohibited except for administration of inactivated vaccines.
Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
Known history of testing positive for the human immunodeficiency virus 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).
Known prior severe hypersensitivity to investigational product or any component in its formulations, including known severe hypersensitivity reactions to monoclonal antibodies (NCI CTCAE v4.03 Grade ≥ 3).
Clinically significant (i.e., 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 cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.
Persisting toxicity related to prior therapy (NCI CTCAE v. 4.03 Grade > 1); however, alopecia, sensory neuropathy Grade ≤ 2, or other Grade ≤ 2 not constituting a safety risk based on investigator’s judgment are acceptable.
Prior organ transplantation including allogenic stem-cell transplantation.
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.
Concurrent treatment with a non-permitted drug.
Patients suspected by the physician that he/she will not compliant to the protocol conduct.
Pregnant or breastfeeding patients.
Patient participating in another clinical trial.
Patient who is not willing to sign the consent form.
Any psychiatric condition that would prohibit the understanding or rendering of informed consent.
Legal incapacity or limited legal capacity patients receiving other oncology specific medication not authorized in the protocol.