This is a multicenter, single-arm, phase II study of nivolumab in combination with regorafenib in subjects with locally-advanced rectal cancer who are eligible for a curative treatment including pre-operative SCRT and TME(or watch \& wait approach). The study is based on the Simon's two-stage design and a maximum of 60 subjects will be enrolled. In addition to the standard efficacy interim analysis according to the statistical design, a safety interim analysis will be performed on the first 6 subjects who have completed the study treatment to ensure safe continuation of the study investigation. Eligible subjects will be treated according to the following sequential treatment plan: * Induction treatment: This consists of treatment with nivolumab (240 mg intravenously, on day 1 and 15) and regorafenib (60 mg/day orally, from day 1 to 14) * Standard SCRT: This consists of 25 Gy delivered in 5 fractions (from day 22 to 26) * Consolidation treatment: This consists of treatment with nivolumab (240 mg intravenously, on day 29, 43 and 57) and regorafenib (60 mg/day orally, from day 29 to 49) * Surgery: Surgical resection will be performed according to the principles of TME (between day 74 and 87, i.e., between 7 to 8 weeks after completion of SCRT). As an alternative to surgery, subjects who achieve cCR can be offered a watch \& wait approach. * Adjuvant chemotherapy: Administration of adjuvant chemotherapy will be left to the discretion of the treating physician The study also includes translational procedures (i.e. collection of tumour biopsies, blood samples and stool samples at pre-specified time points) for exploratory molecular and immune contexture analyses. These are mandatory for all study subjects.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
72
Nivolumab will be given at a dose of 240 mg during the pre-operative phase only as indicated below: * On day 1 and 15, during the "Induction treatment" * On day 29, 43 and 57, during the "Consolidation treatment"
Regorafenib will be administered orally once a day at a dose of 60 mg/day (2 tablets of 40 mg), during the pre-operative phase only as indicated below: * From day 1 to 14, during the "Induction treatment" * From day 29 to 49, during the "Consolidation treatment"
All study subjects will receive 5 daily fractions of radiotherapy. Each fraction will consist of 5 Gy for a total dose of 25 Gy. Radiotherapy is to start on day 22 and to finish on day 26.
Subject will undergo surgical resection of the primary tumour in the rectum between day 74 and 87. Surgery must be performed according to the principles of total mesorectal excision as described by Heald et al. The type of surgical approach (low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection, etc.) will be left to the discretion of the treating surgeon.
Subjects who achieve cCR after pre-operative treatment can, after discussion with the local investigator, decline surgery and opt for a non-operative management. cCR will need to be confirmed between day 67 and 74 by the following procedures per local practise: * Digital rectal examination * Rectal endoscopy * Rectal MRI Subjects who achieve near cCR at the first assessment time point after pre-operative treatment, can be re-assessed 6 to 8 weeks later with the same procedures. If cCR is diagnosed, they can opt for watch \& wait, otherwise they would need to undergo surgical resection. Subjects who opt for a non-operative management will be followed for tumour recurrence and survival for 5 years after end of treatment visit. Follow-up for these subjects will be more intensive than that for subjects undergoing surgery
Institut Jules Bordet
Anderlecht, Belgium
Chirec Delta
Brussels, Belgium
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc
Brussels, Belgium
UZAntwerpen
Edegem, Belgium
UZ Gent
Ghent, Belgium
Grand Hopital de Charleroi
Gilly, Belgium
AZ Groeninge
Kortrijk, Belgium
CHU Ambroise Paré
Mons, Belgium
CHR Namur
Namur, Belgium
Evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab and regorafenib when administered before and after standard, pre-operative short-course radiation therapy.
Measurement of the clinical (cCR) and pathological complete response (pCR) rate in subjects with pMMR/MSS tumours This will be evaluated in the mITT population and defined as the absence of viable tumour cells in the surgical specimens. Rate of pCR will be presented as number of subjects and percentage, along with a 95% confidence interval.
Time frame: immediately after the surgery
Assessment of the toxicity according to the NCI CTCAE version 5.0.
The type, frequency and severity of adverse events will be analysed in the mITT population.
Time frame: 5 months after the last administration of study treatment
Assessment of the proportion of subjects who complete systemic treatment, radiotherapy and surgery according (if perfomed) to the study protocol.
This is will be evaluated in the Intention to Treat (ITT) population to assess the feasibility of combining regorafenib with nivolumab in the setting of locally-advanced rectal cancer as demonstrated by subject compliance with the investigational strategy, SCRT and surgery (if performed)
Time frame: immediately after the surgery (if performed)
Evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab and regorafenib when administered before and after standard, pre-operative short-course radiation therapy.
RO resection rate will be analysed in the mITT population and defined as the proportion of subjects who undergo surgical resection of the tumour with clear margins (i.e., \>1 mm).
Time frame: immediately after the surgery (if performed)
Evaluation of the immune activation induced by the investigational treatment regorafenib with nivolumab
CD3 and CD8 T-cells infiltrate increase in post-treatment tumour tissue samples
Time frame: Before (biopsy at week 3) and immediately after surgery (surgical specimen) (if performed)
Evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab and regorafenib when administered before and after standard, pre-operative short-course radiation therapy.
The rate of complete/near complete pathological tumour regression will be evaluated in the mITT population and defined as the proportion of subjects who achieve pathological tumour regression grade (pTRG) 3 or 4 according to the Dworak pTRG score.
Time frame: immediately after the surgery (if performed)
Evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab and regorafenib when administered before and after standard, pre-operative short-course radiation therapy.
The Event-free survival (EFS) will be evaluated in the mITT population and calculated from the date of registration to the date of occurrence of any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes surgery, local or distant recurrence, or death due to any cause. Kaplan Meier methods will be used to calculate EFS rates along with 95% confidence intervals.
Time frame: 5 years after end of treatment
Evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of nivolumab and regorafenib when administered before and after standard, pre-operative short-course radiation therapy.
The Overall survival (OS) will be evaluated in the mITT population and calculated from the date of registration to the date of death from any cause. Kaplan Meier methods will be used to calculate OS rates along with 95% confidence intervals.
Time frame: 5 years after end of treatment
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