Cetuximab Combined With Irinotecan in First-line Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (CRYSTAL)

Sponsor
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
Study ID
NCT00154102
Phase
PHASE3
Status
Completed

Conditions

  • Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Expressing Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Cetuximab — DRUG
    Cetuximab intravenous infusion of 400mg/m\^2 for the first infusion then weekly intravenous infusion of 250mg/m\^2. Number of Cycles: until progression or unacceptable toxicity develops
  • FOLFIRI (5-Fluorouracil, Folinic acid, Irinotecan) — DRUG
    Bi-weekly Irinotecan infusion of 180mg/m\^2, Folinic Acid infusion of 400mg/m\^2 (racemic) or 200mg/m\^2 (L-form), 5-Fluorouracil bolus of 400mg/m\^2 followed by a 46-hour continuous infusion of 2400mg/m\^2 Number of Cycles: until progression or unacceptable toxicity develops

Study Details

Drugs used against cancer 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. Giving combination chemotherapy together with cetuximab as first treatment after diagnosis of a metastatic colorectal cancer ('1st-line' treatment) may improve the treatment efficacy. However, it is not yet known whether giving combination chemotherapy together with cetuximab is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone. This open-label trial investigates the effectiveness of cetuximab in combination with a standard and effective chemotherapy (5-Fluorouracil (5FU)/Folinic acid (FA) plus irinotecan) for metastatic colorectal cancer in first-line setting, compared to the same chemotherapy alone on patient expressing the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor. Patients expressing this EGF Receptor will be randomly assign in one of the 2 groups to either receive the combination chemotherapy alone or with cetuximab (open-label study) and will then be treated until progression of the disease or unacceptable toxicity occur. Regular efficacy assessments (every 8 weeks) based on imaging will be performed throughout the study together with regular safety assessments (e.g. safety labs). An independent Safety Board of experts will also monitor safety data. After participant discontinuation from the trial, regular updates on further treatments and survival status will be requested from the investigator. The entire study (from the first patient entering the study to the last collect of follow-up information) is 4-5 years long.

Key Dates

Start date
May 31, 2004
Status verified
Jan 2017
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2006
Completion
Mar 31, 2011

Study Design

Enrollment
1,221 participants (actual)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Cetuximab Plus FOLFIRI
  • Active Comparator: FOLFIRI Alone

Primary Outcome Measure

Progression-free Survival (PFS) Time - Independent Review Committee (IRC) Assessments [ Time Frame: Time from randomisation to disease progression, death or last tumour assessment, reported between day of first patient randomised, 10 Aug 2004, until cut-off date, 27 July 2006 ]