Key clinical point: Rechallenge therapy with cetuximab and avelumab was effective and well tolerated in patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who experienced a response to first-line antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy.
Major finding: The trial achieved its primary endpoint with a median overall survival of 11.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.4-14.8) months. Overall, 65% of patients achieved disease control with a median progression-free survival of 3.6 (95% CI, 3.2-4.1) months. Cutaneous eruption (14%) and diarrhea (4%) were the most common grade 3 toxic effects.
Study details: Findings are from a single-arm, phase 2 CAVE trial including 77 patients with RAS wild-type mCRC with a major response to first-line chemotherapy and anti-EGFR drug cetuximab or panitumumab, progressed and further received avelumab+cetuximab until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects.
Disclosures: This study was supported by Merck and Regione Campania. Some of the authors declared serving as advisor, speaker, and consultant and/or receiving research grants from various sources.
Source: Martinelli E et al. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Aug 12. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.2915 .