Pre-operative Decitabine in Colon Cancer: a Proof of Principle Study

Colon Cancer

Background of the study: Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death world wide. Although patients presenting with early disease (stage I-III) can be cured, prognosis varies from 90% in stage I to 50-80% in stage II and III. Therefore, prevention of metastases after early disease is of utmost importance. Derepression of Wnt targets may provide a novel target for therapy. Objectives: The primary objective of the study is to assess in patients with primary colon cancer whether short-course pre-operative treatment with decitabine can increase Wnt target gene expression as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies. The secondary objective of the study is to assess in patients with primary colon cancer whether short-course pre-operative treatment with decitabine can revert CpG methylation and induce more favorable tumor characteristics as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies. The tertiary objective is to compare changes in Wnt target gene expression, CpG methylation and tumor characteristics for Wnt methylated and nonmethylated tumors as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies and identify new stratification markers.

Rationale: Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death world wide. Although patients presenting with early disease (stage I-III) can be cured, prognosis varies from 90% in stage I to 50-80% in stage II and III. Therefore, prevention of metastases after early disease is of utmost importance. Extensive studies of the Wnt signal cascade have elucidated its role in colorectal cancer development and proliferation. Several well-known targets of the Wnt-cascade, like DKK1, APCDD1 and AXIN2, serve as feedback inhibitors and likely prevent pathway hyperactivation. Therefore, loss of these control mechanisms, for example due to repression of Wnt targets by CpG island methylation, serves as a potent proliferative signal. Recently, we identified a subset of colon cancers that are typified by CpG island methylation of specific Wnt target genes and have a poor prognosis. Moreover, in preclinical studies we showed that derepression of Wnt-targets by the demethylating agent decitabine resulted in tumor growth suppression. Thus, derepression of Wnt targets may provide a novel target for therapy. Objectives: The primary objective of the study is to assess in patients with primary colon cancer whether short-course pre-operative treatment with decitabine can increase Wnt target gene expression as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies. The secondary objective of the study is to assess in patients with primary colon cancer whether short-course pre-operative treatment with decitabine can revert CpG methylation and induce more favorable tumor characteristics as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies. The tertiary objective is to compare changes in Wnt target gene expression, CpG methylation and tumor characteristics for Wnt methylated and nonmethylated tumors as measured in resected tumors compared to pretreatment biopsies and identify new stratification markers. Study design: Interventional study. Study population: Patients \> 18 yr old with histopathologically proven or high suspicion of colon cancer. Intervention: In patients with proven colon cancer, five extra biopsies will be taken from the tumour during endoscopy to determine CpG methylation of Wnt target genes in fresh tumor samples. Next, these patients will pre-operatively receive decitabine as a single intravenous infusion at a dose of 45 mg/m2 over 6 hr. After resection, Wnt target gene expression and CpG methylation of Wnt target genes will again be determined in fresh tumor samples. Main study parameters: The primary study parameter is Wnt target gene expression (APCDD1, AXIN2, DKK1, LGR5 and ASCL2). Secondary study parameters are Wnt target and CIMP gene methylation, beta-catenin localization, proliferation (Ki-67), apoptosis (TUNEL and M30 assay) and tumor differentiation.

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