Randomized Phase III Trial of mFOLFIRINOX vs. FOLFOX With Nivolumab for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic HER2- Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma

Plain English Summary

mFOLFIRINOX Versus mFOLFOX With or Without Nivolumab for the Treatment of Advanced, Unresectable, or Metastatic HER2 Negative Esophageal, Gastroesophageal Junction, and Gastric Adenocarcinoma is a Phase 3 clinical trial sponsored by Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology studying Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma, Clinical Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Tests a new chemotherapy combination with or without immunotherapy for advanced HER2-negative esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric cancers. For patients with advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-negative esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, or gastric adenocarcinoma. Participation involves receiving IV chemotherapy and possibly immunotherapy, with regular check-ups and blood tests. Alternative treatments include standard FOLFOX chemotherapy. The trial aims to enroll 382 participants.

Official Summary

This phase III trial compares the effect of modified fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (mFOLFIRINOX) to modified fluorouracil, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX) for the treatment of advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2 negative esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric adenocarcinoma. The usual approach for patients is treatment with FOLFOX chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Fluorouracil stops cells from making DNA and it may kill tumor cells. Leucovorin is used with fluorouracil to enhance the effects of the drug. Oxaliplatin works by killing, stopping, or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Some patients also receive an immunotherapy drug, nivolumab, in addition to FOLFOX chemotherapy. Immunotherapy may induce changes in body's immune system and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Irinotecan blocks certain enzymes needed for cell division and DNA repair, and it may kill tumor cells. Adding irinotecan to the FOLFOX regimen could shrink the cancer and extend the life of patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancers.

Who Can Participate

Here is what you need to know about eligibility for this trial. Eligible if HER2-negative adenocarcinoma, advanced stage, measurable disease, no prior treatment, and certain health criteria met. Not eligible if pregnant, known Gilbert's syndrome, active autoimmune disease, or untreated brain metastasis. Age >= 18, ECOG PS 0-1, specific blood and organ function tests within normal range. Must speak English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), or Russian. This trial is studying Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma, Clinical Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, so participants generally need a confirmed diagnosis. The trial is currently accepting new participants.

What They're Measuring

Measures overall survival, which means it aims to extend the lives of patients with advanced gastroesophageal cancers. The specific primary outcome measures are: Overall survival (OS) (Up to 2 years from the time of randomization.). These endpoints are how researchers determine whether the treatment is effective and will form the basis of any future regulatory submissions.

About This Phase

This trial is in Phase 3, the final and most rigorous stage before seeking FDA approval. Phase 3 trials involve 300-3,000+ patients across multiple sites and compare the new treatment directly against the current standard of care. These pivotal trials generate the evidence needed for regulatory review. About 58% of Phase 3 drugs receive FDA approval. Successful Phase 3 results typically lead to a New Drug Application submission.

Why This Trial Matters

This trial fills a gap by comparing a new chemotherapy regimen with or without immunotherapy for advanced HER2-negative gastroesophageal cancers. As a Phase 3 trial, positive results could directly lead to FDA approval, making this treatment available to the broader patient population. This research targets Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastric Adenocarcinoma, Advanced Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma, Clinical Stage III Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage III Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Esophageal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastric Cancer AJCC v8, Clinical Stage IV Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Metastatic Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, where improved treatment options are needed.

Investor Insight

Significant market size and competitive landscape; high approval probability given the unmet need in HER2-negative gastroesophageal cancers. Phase 3 trials have approximately a 50-60% chance of gaining FDA approval if they reach this stage.

Is This Trial Right for Me?

Ask your doctor about your eligibility and the potential benefits and risks of participating. Day-to-day participation involves regular IV treatments and check-ups. This trial is currently recruiting participants. The trial is being conducted at 20 sites. Always discuss clinical trial participation with your healthcare provider before making any decisions. This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. This is not medical advice. Discuss clinical trial participation with your doctor. Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Study Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE
• Enrollment: 382 participants

Interventions

• DRUG: Fluorouracil — Given IV
• DRUG: Leucovorin Calcium — Given IV
• DRUG: Oxaliplatin — Given IV
• DRUG: Irinotecan — Given IV
• BIOLOGICAL: Nivolumab — Given IV

Primary Outcomes

• Overall survival (OS) (Up to 2 years from the time of randomization.)

Secondary Outcomes

• Progression-free survival (PFS) (The time from registration to the time of documented progression and/or death, assessed up to 3 years)
• Overall response rate (Up to 3 years)
• Duration of Response (The time between each patient's best tumor response and progression (or date of last disease assessment for patients who die without progression or are lost to follow-up), assessed up to 3 years)
• Incidence of adverse events (Up to 3 years)
• Patient reported outcomes (At baseline, day 1 of cycles 1-8 and day 1 of each odd-numbered cycle thereafter)

Full Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologic documentation: HER2 negative adenocarcinoma as defined by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines (Bartley et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology \[JCO\] 2017) with known PD-L1 CPS (Any CPS is allowed, but should be known prior to registration)
* Stage: unresectable or metastatic
* Tumor site: esophagus, gastroesophageal junction, or stomach
* Measurable disease or non-measurable but evaluable disease as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1
* No prior treatment for unresectable or metastatic disease
* Prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy or adjuvant immunotherapy is allowed as long as it was completed at least 1 year prior to registration
* Age \>= 18 years
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0 or 1
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/mm\^3
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) OR calculated (calc.) creatinine clearance \>= 30 mL/min
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x ULN
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 3 x ULN (in patients with liver metastasis: =\< 5 x ULN if clearly attributable to liver metastases)
* Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
* Patients positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are eligible only if they meet all of the following:

  * On effective anti-retroviral therapy
  * Undetectable HIV viral load by standard clinical assay =\< 6 months of registration
* Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
* Patients who will receive nivolumab in addition to chemotherapy must not have any contraindications to immune checkpoint inhibitors

  * Patients must not have active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment within 6 months prior to registration. Patients are permitted to receive immunotherapy if they have vitiligo, type I diabetes, residual hypothyroidism due to autoimmune condition only requiring hormone replacement, psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment, or conditions not expected to recur in the absence of an external trigger (precipitating event)
  * Patients must not have a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10mg/day prednisone equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days prior to registration. Inhaled or topical steroids and adrenal replacement doses (=\< 10mg/day prednisone equivalent) are permitted
  * Patients must not have a history of noninfectious pneumonitis requiring steroids
  * Patients with prior immune mediated adverse events related to immunotherapy that resulted in permanent treatment discontinuation with these agents are ineligible
* This study includes the use of the mandatory patient completed measure, PRO-CTCAE. For this study the PRO-CTCAE is available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), and Russian, hence patients must be able to speak, understand and read in these languages. Ad-hoc translation of patient-reported measures is not permitted

Exclusion Criteria:

* Not pregnant and not nursing, because this study involves an agent that has known genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects

  \* Therefore, for women of childbearing potential only, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration is required
* No known Gilbert's syndrome or known homozygosity for UGAT1A1\*28 polymorphism
* No baseline grade \>= 2 peripheral neuropathy, neurosensory toxicity, or neuromotor toxicity per CTCAE version (v) 5.0 regardless of causality
* No medical condition such as uncontrolled infection or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus which, in the opinion of the treating physician, would make this protocol unreasonably hazardous for the patient
* No untreated, symptomatic brain metastasis. Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if the following criteria are met: 1) follow-up brain imaging done at least in 4 weeks after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression and 2) the patient no longer requires steroids, or is on a stable steroid dose for more than four weeks
* No allogeneic tissue/organ transplant

Trial Locations

• University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
• Anchorage Associates in Radiation Medicine, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Anchorage Radiation Therapy Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Breast Care and Surgery LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Oncology and Hematology LLC, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Alaska Women's Cancer Care, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Anchorage Oncology Centre, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Katmai Oncology Group, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Providence Alaska Medical Center, Anchorage, Alaska, United States
• Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
• ...and 10 more locations

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Conditions

• Advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma, advanced gastric adenocarcinoma, advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, clinical stage III and IV cancers.

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