Capecitabine, Irinotecan Hydrochloride, Cetuximab, and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients Undergoing Surgery for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2016-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine and irinotecan hydrochloride, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving combination chemotherapy, cetuximab, and radiation therapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller and reduce the amount of normal tissue that needs to be removed.

PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects of giving capecitabine and irinotecan hydrochloride together with cetuximab and radiation therapy and to see how well it works in treating patients undergoing surgery for locally advanced rectal cancer.

• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University College, London
• Treatments: Camptothecin; Capecitabine; Cetuximab; Irinotecan

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the rectum

• MRI-defined locally advanced disease, as defined by 1 of the following:

• Mesorectal fascia involvement

• Mesorectal fascia threatened (tumor ≤ 1 mm from mesorectal fascia)

• Any T3 tumor < 5 cm from anal verge

• No evidence of metastatic disease

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• ECOG or WHO performance status 0-1

• ANC ≥ 1.5 x 10^9/L

• Platelet count ≥ 100 x 10^9/L

• Serum bilirubin < 1.25 times upper limit of normal (ULN)

• Serum transaminase(s) < 3 times ULN

• Serum alkaline phosphatase < 5 times ULN

• Estimated glomerular filtration rate > 50 mL/min

• Not pregnant or nursing

• Fertile patients must use effective contraception

• Fit to receive all study treatments

• Able to comply with oral medication

• No comorbidity or coagulation problem that would deem the patient unsuitable for surgery

• No pre-existing condition that would preclude radiotherapy (e.g., fistulas, severe ulcerative colitis [particularly patients currently taking sulfasalazine], Crohn's disease, prior adhesions)

• No current or impending rectal obstruction (unless a defunctioning stoma is present) or metallic colonic rectal stent in situ

• No significant small bowel delineated within the radiotherapy fields

• No pelvic sepsis

• No gastrointestinal disorder that would interfere with oral therapy or oral bioavailability

• No uncontrolled cardiac, respiratory, or other disease that would preclude study therapy or informed consent

• No serious medical or psychiatric disorder that would preclude study therapy or informed consent

• No known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• No prior chemotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy to the pelvis

• No concurrent participation in other studies, except genetic studies (e.g., NSCCG-National Study of Colorectal Cancer Genetics)

• No concurrent St. John wort

• No other concurrent cytotoxic treatment or radiotherapy