The investigators will conduct a single-arm, open-label Phase II clinical trial investigating the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab with panitumumab in subjects with unresectable, refractory, KRAS/NRAS/BRAF wild-type, microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). There will be an initial safety lead-in cohort to ensure the combination is well-tolerated. The primary objective of this study is to estimate the overall response rate in these subjects at 12 weeks . Secondary objectives include the following: estimating the overall response rate in these subjects at 12 weeks by immune-related RECIST criteria (irRECIST), estimating the best response rate by both RECIST 1.1 and irRECIST criteria, estimating progression-free survival (PFS) and duration of response using both RECIST 1.1 and irRECIST criteria, estimating overall survival (OS), and characterizing the safety issues associated with this regimen. Exploratory objectives involve investigating various biomarkers and peripheral blood and tumor assays.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma, with unresectable metastatic or locally advanced disease documented on diagnostic imaging studies.
2. Previously received 1-2 prior lines of therapy. Subjects who relapse within 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy comprised of oxaliplatin and a fluoropyrimidine will have their adjuvant therapy count as one prior line of therapy.
3. Confirmed wild-type in KRAS and NRAS codons 12, 13, 59, 61, 117, and 146; and BRAF codon 600, by standard of care testing of tumor specimen. Tissue used for testing may have been collected from primary or metastatic site.
4. Microsatellite stable as detected by PCR-based assay or CLIA-certified sequencing methodology such as Foundation One; or mismatch repair proficient as detected by immunohistochemistry showing intact nuclear staining of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2
5. Radiographically measurable disease present per RECIST 1.1
6. Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent.
7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.
8. Blood counts performed within 3 weeks prior to starting study therapy must have absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mm3, platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3, and hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL.
\*Note: Hematology and other lab parameters that are ≤ grade 2 but still meet criteria for study entry are allowed. Furthermore, changes in laboratory parameters during the study should not be considered adverse events unless they meet criteria for dose modification(s) of study medication outlined by the protocol and/or worsen from baseline during therapy.
9. Liver function tests performed within 3 weeks prior to starting study therapy must have total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN), alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase ≤ 3 x ULN, and albumin ≥ 2.5 g/dL.
10. Serum creatinine performed within 3 weeks prior to starting study therapy must be ≤ 1.5 x ULN, or have calculated creatinine clearance (using Cockcroft-Gault formula provided in Appendix 11.3) of ≥ 50 mL/minute.
11. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. Females of childbearing potential must agree to use 2 methods of effective contraception or abstain from heterosexual sex throughout the treatment period and for 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Females of childbearing potential are women who have not been surgically sterilized (have undergone a hysterectomy, bilateral tubal ligation, or bilateral oophorectomy) or have not been free of menses for \>1 year.
12. Male subjects with female partners must have had a prior vasectomy or agree to use an adequate method of contraception (i.e., double barrier method: condom plus spermicidal agent) starting with the first dose of study therapy through 7 months after the last dose of study treatment.
13. Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information. NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be included in the informed consent or obtained separately.
14. An adequate amount of archival tumor tissue must be available at baseline to be eligible for enrollment in the study. If archival tissue is not available or is inadequate, then the subject must consent to undergo a mandatory biopsy at baseline in order to participate in the study.
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Past treatment with an antibody targeting EGFR including cetuximab or panitumumab.
2. Past treatment with an antibody targeting immune checkpoints including CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, or CD137.
3. Known untreated brain metastasis or brain metastasis treated within 3 months prior to enrollment in this trial.
4. Has evidence of interstitial lung disease or active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
5. Has a known additional malignancy that is active and/or progressive requiring treatment; exceptions include basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical or bladder cancer, or other cancer for which the subject has been disease free for at least five years.
6. Treatment within 21 days of the first dose of study drug with any other chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biologic therapy, vaccine therapy, or investigational treatment for the treatment of malignancy, or failure to recover from adverse effects of prior therapies administered over 4 weeks prior to Study Day 1. All toxicities from prior therapies must be ≤ Grade 1 (or ≤ Grade 2 for alopecia or peripheral neuropathy). Prior systemic treatment in the adjuvant setting is allowed. See note above under inclusion 3.1.8
7. Any serious and/or unstable pre-existing medical disorder (aside from malignancy exception above), psychiatric disorder, or other conditions that could interfere with subject's safety, obtaining informed consent, or compliance to the study procedures.
8. Pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant within 6 months after the end of treatment. (NOTE: breast milk cannot be stored for future use while the mother is being treated on study).
9. History of organ allograft or other history of immunodeficiency, or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days before the first dose of investigational treatment.
10. Inability or unwillingness to comply with study and/or follow-up requirements.
11. Any major surgery, extensive radiotherapy, chemotherapy with clinically significant delayed toxicity, biologic therapy, or immunotherapy within 21 days prior to randomization and/or daily or weekly chemotherapy without the potential for delayed toxicity within 14 days prior to randomization.
12. Known immediate or delayed hypersensitivity reaction or idiosyncrasy to drugs chemically related to study drug.
13. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Subjects with laboratory evidence of cleared HBV and HCV infection will be permitted.
14. Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the past 3 months (for example with disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg, thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. Subjects with vitiligo or resolved childhood asthma/atopy would be an exception to this rule. Subjects that require intermittent use of bronchodilators, local steroid injections, or inhaled or topical steroids would not be excluded from the study. Subjects with hypothyroidism stable on hormone replacement or Sjogren's syndrome will not be excluded from the study.
15. Active infection requiring intravenous systemic therapy.
