Dataset Information

Encorafenib Plus Cetuximab as a New Standard of Care for Previously Treated BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Updated Survival Results and Subgroup Analyses from the BEACON Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

BEACON CRC evaluated encorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib versus investigators' choice of irinotecan or FOLFIRI plus cetuximab in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), after progression on 1-2 prior regimens. In the previously reported primary analysis, encorafenib, binimetinib plus cetuximab (ENCO/BINI/CETUX; triplet) and encorafenib plus cetuximab (ENCO/CETUX; doublet) regimens improved overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR; by blinded central review) versus standard of care. The purpose of this analysis was to report updated efficacy and safety data.

Methods

In this open-label, phase III trial, 665 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive triplet, doublet, or control. Primary end points were OS and independently reviewed ORR comparing triplet to control. OS for doublet versus control was a key secondary end point. Updated analyses include 6 months of additional follow-up and ORR for all randomized patients.

Results

Patients received triplet (n = 224), doublet (n = 220), or control (n = 221). Median OS was 9.3 months (95% CI, 8.2 to 10.8) for triplet and 5.9 months (95% CI, 5.1 to 7.1) for control (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60 [95% CI, 0.47 to 0.75]). Median OS for doublet was 9.3 months (95% CI, 8.0 to 11.3) (HR v control, 0.61 [95% CI, 0.48 to 0.77]). Confirmed ORR was 26.8% (95% CI, 21.1% to 33.1%) for triplet, 19.5% (95% CI, 14.5% to 25.4%) for doublet, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0.5% to 4.6%) for control. Adverse events were consistent with the prior primary analysis, with grade ≥ 3 adverse events in 65.8%, 57.4%, and 64.2% for triplet, doublet, and control, respectively.

Conclusion

In the BEACON CRC study, encorafenib plus cetuximab improved OS, ORR, and progression-free survival in previously treated patients in the metastatic setting compared with standard chemotherapy. Based on the primary and updated analyses, encorafenib plus cetuximab is a new standard care regimen for previously treated patients with BRAF V600E mCRC.

SUBMITTER: Tabernero J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8078423 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:BackgroundPatients with BRAF V600E mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have a poor prognosis. The introduction of BRAF targeted therapy with encorafenib and weekly administered cetuximab have shown improved survival with a median progression free survival (PFS) of 4.3 months. However, a regimen with cetuximab given every second week may have comparable efficacy and is more convenient for patients. While BRAF targeted therapy is a new standard therapy in pre-treated patients with BRAF V600E mutated mCRC, resistance invariably occurs and is an emerging challenge. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of cetuximab given every second week in combination with daily encorafenib and to explore the correlation between markers of resistance and outcome.MethodsThe study is an open label, single arm, phase II study, investigating the efficacy and tolerability of cetuximab given every second week in combination with encorafenib in patients with BRAF V600E mutated mCRC. Furthermore, we will be investigating mechanisms of response and resistance against BRAF targeted therapy though comprehensive genomic profiling on tumor tissue and blood for circulating tumor DNA analysis. A total of 53 patients (19 + 34 in two steps) will be included according to Simon's optimal two stage design. The primary end point of the study is 2 months PFS rate.DiscussionBy combining BRAF inhibitor with cetuximab given every second week we can halve the number of visits in the hospital compared to the currently approved regimen with weekly cetuximab. This seems particularly relevant in a group of patients with a median overall survival of 9.3 months. Resistance after initial response to targeted therapy can be either adaptive (e.g., epigenetic, or transcriptomic alterations) or acquired (selective genetic alterations - e.g., activating de novo mutations) resistance. It is of great importance to untangle these complex mechanisms of resistance in patients with BRAF V600E mutated mCRC to improve treatment strategies in the future potentially even further.Trial registrationEU Clinical Trial Register, Eudract no. 2020-003283-10 . Registered on 11 November 2020.

Project description:BackgroundEncorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib showed increased objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy plus anti-EGFR in previously treated patients with BRAF V600E-mutated (mut) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Although no formal comparison was planned, addition of binimetinib to encorafenib plus cetuximab did not provide significant efficacy advantage.Patients and methodsThis real-life study was aimed at evaluating safety, activity, and efficacy of encorafenib plus cetuximab with or without binimetinib in patients with BRAF V600E-mut mCRC treated at 21 Italian centers within a nominal use program launched in May 2019.ResultsOut of 133 patients included, 97 (73%) received encorafenib plus cetuximab (targeted doublet) and 36 (27%) the same therapy plus binimetinib (targeted triplet). Most patients had Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS) of 0 or 1 (86%), right-sided primary tumor (69%), and synchronous disease (66%). Twenty (15%) tumors were DNA mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR)/microsatellite instability (MSI)-high. As many as 44 (34%) patients had received two or more prior lines of therapy, 122 (92%) were previously exposed to oxaliplatin, and 109 (82%) to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF). Most frequent adverse events were asthenia (62%) and anti-EGFR-related skin rash (52%). Any grade nausea (P = 0.03), vomiting (P = 0.04), and diarrhea (P = 0.07) were more frequent with the triplet therapy, while melanocytic nevi were less common (P = 0.06). Overall, ORR and disease control rate (DCR) were 23% and 69%, respectively, with numerically higher rates in the triplet group (ORR 31% versus 17%, P = 0.12; DCR 78% versus 65%, P = 0.23). Median PFS and OS were 4.5 and 7.2 months, respectively. Worse ECOG-PS, peritoneal metastases, and more than one prior treatment were independent poor prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Clonality of BRAF mutation measured as adjusted mutant allele fraction in tumor tissue was not associated with clinical outcome.ConclusionsOur real-life data are consistent with those from the BEACON trial in terms of safety, activity, and efficacy. Patients in good general condition and not heavily pretreated are those more likely to derive benefit from the targeted treatment.

Project description:PurposeTo determine the safety and preliminary efficacy of selective combination targeted therapy for BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the safety lead-in phase of the open-label, randomized, three-arm, phase III BEACON Colorectal Cancer trial ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02928224; European Union Clinical Trials Register identifier: EudraCT2015-005805-35).Patients and methodsBefore initiation of the randomized portion of the BEACON Colorectal Cancer trial, 30 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC who had experienced treatment failure with one or two prior regimens were to be recruited to a safety lead-in of encorafenib 300 mg daily, binimetinib 45 mg twice daily, plus standard weekly cetuximab. The primary end point was safety, including the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities. Efficacy end points included overall response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival.ResultsAmong the 30 treated patients, dose-limiting toxicities occurred in five patients and included serous retinopathy (n = 2), reversible decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (n = 1), and cetuximab-related infusion reactions (n = 2). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were fatigue (13%), anemia (10%), increased creatine phosphokinase (10%), increased AST (10%), and urinary tract infections (10%). In 29 patients with BRAF V600E-mutant tumors (one patient had a non-BRAF V600E-mutant tumor and was not included in the efficacy analysis), the confirmed overall response rate was 48% (95% CI, 29.4% to 67.5%), median progression-free survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 5.6 to 9.3 months), and median overall survival was 15.3 months (95% CI, 9.6 months to not reached), with median duration of follow-up of 18.2 months (range, 16.6 to 19.8 months).ConclusionIn the safety lead-in, the safety and tolerability of the encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab regimen is manageable and acceptable for initiation of the randomized portion of the study. The observed efficacy is promising compared with available therapies and, if confirmed in the randomized portion of the trial, could establish this regimen as a new standard of care for previously treated BRAF V600E-mutant mCRC.

Project description:ObjectiveThe BEACON CRC randomised controlled trial (NCT02928224) in BRAF-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients showed improved overall survival for the combination treatment of encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor) with cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor) compared with cetuximab with chemotherapy (FOLFIRI (folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan) or irinotecan). We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of encorafenib with cetuximab in adult patients with BRAF-mutant mCRC after prior systemic therapy, from the perspective of the French healthcare system.DesignA partitioned survival analysis model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of encorafenib with cetuximab using data from BEACON CRC (encorafenib with cetuximab and cetuximab with FOLFIRI or irinotecan). For two further comparator treatments (FOLFIRI alone and bevacizumab with FOLFIRI), a systemic literature review identified appropriate clinical trial data for indirect comparison. Piecewise modelling extrapolation was used to fulfil a lifetime horizon in the model. A discount rate of 2.5% was used. Treatment-emergent adverse events ≥grade 3 with an incidence of ≥2% were included, as well as relative dose intensity and utility values.Outcome measuresThe effectiveness outcomes of the model were expressed in terms of incremental life years gained and incremental quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained. The cost-effectiveness of encorafenib with cetuximab was assessed using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results were presented probabilistically to account for parametric uncertainty. Deterministic and scenario analyses were conducted.ResultsThe ICER for encorafenib with cetuximab versus cetuximab with FOLFIRI or irinotecan, FOLFIRI alone and bevacizumab with FOLFIRI was €69 823/QALY, €70 421/QALY and €72 336/QALY, respectively. Encorafenib with cetuximab was considered cost-effective compared with the three comparators at a willingness to pay threshold of €90 000/QALY, with probabilities of being cost-effective of 89.8%, 98.2% and 86.4%, respectively.ConclusionsThis analysis showed encorafenib with cetuximab to be a cost-effective treatment in mCRC patients with a BRAF V600E mutation.