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Neoadjuvant Immune Checkpoint Inhibition and Novel IO Combinations in Early-stage Colon Cancer

Neoadjuvant Immune Checkpoint Inhibition and Novel IO Combinations in Early-stage Colon Cancer (Amended Protocol of: Nivolumab, Ipilimumab and COX2-inhibition in Early Stage Colon Cancer: an Unbiased Approach for Signals of Sensitivity: The NICHE TRIAL)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03026140
Acronym
NICHE
Enrollment
353
Registered
2017-01-20
Start date
2017-03-29
Completion date
2032-03-01
Last updated
2026-03-05

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Colon Carcinoma

Keywords

MSI tumors, MSS tumors, short-term immunotherapy, surgical resection, nivolumab, ipilimumab, COX2, Anti-IL8, Relatlimab, Anti-LAG3

Brief summary

In this exploratory study, patients with stage 1-3 adenocarcinoma of the colon with no signs of distant metastases will be treated with short-term immunotherapy + novel IO combinations (i.e. anti-IL 8, COX2-inhibitors, anti-LAG3). This treatment will be given during the window period until surgical resection of the tumor. The duration of treatment will be in between approximately 6 and 12 weeks.

Detailed description

In this multi-center, open-label, exploratory study, the investigators will enroll 60 patients within two years, including 30 patients with MSS tumors and 30 patients with MSI tumors. Patients with MSS tumors will be randomized to either group 1 or 2. Patients with MSI tumors will all be allocated to group 1. Patients in group 1 will be treated with a single dose of ipilimumab 1mg/kg on day 1 and two cycles of nivolumab 3mg/kg on day 1 and 15, respectively. Patients in group 2 will be treated with a single dose of ipilimumab 1mg/kg on day 1, two cycles of nivolumab 3mg/kg one day 1 and 15 and celecoxib daily until the day before surgery. The study was amended in May 2020 to enroll an additional 70 patients in the MSI cohort after the first 30 patients, making a total of 100 patients with MSI tumors. A formal sample size calculation and primary endpoint of 3-year disease-free-survival (DFS) for this group was added. The study was amended in July 2021 to add a new cohort, cohort 4, for patients with pMMR/MSS tumors. Once accrual of 30 evaluable patients in group 2 was completed, a new cohort opened in which patients will receive nivolumab plus anti-IL8 (BMS-986253). The study was amended in November 2022 to add cohort 5 and 6, both in which patients will receive nivolumab plus relatlimab (anti-LAG3). Patients with pMMR/MSS tumors will be randomized 1:1 between cohort 4 and cohort 5, patients with dMMR/MSI tumors will be enrolled in cohort 6. Accrual for cohort 4 was reached in July 2023. In April 2024, accrual for cohort 6 was reached. Per April 2024 only cohort 5 is open for recruitment. The study was amended in April 2025 to add cohort 7 and 8. Patients with dMMR/MSI tumors will be randomized 1:1 between cohort 7 and 8, in which they will receive 3 cycles of nivolumab + relatlimab or 3 cycles of nivolumab monotherapy respectively. Per June 2025, cohort 5, 7 and 8 are open for recruitment. Accrual was reached for cohort 8 in February 2026. As February 2026 only cohorts 5 and 7 are open for recruitment. This also means that patients with dMMR/MSI tumors will no longer be randomized but automatically be registered in cohort 7 (and receive 3 cycles of nivolumab + relatlimab).

Interventions

DRUGNivolumab

Nivolumab 3mg/kg (day 1 and day 15), administered neoadjuvant before surgery

DRUGIpilimumab

Ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (day 1) ,administered neoadjuvant before surgery

DRUGCelecoxib 200mg

celecoxib will be administered starting day 1 until 1 day before surgery daily (if patient is randomized to group 2 (only applicable for patients with a MSS tumor)

BMS-986253 2400mg IV will be administered on day 1 and 15 (only applicable for patients with MSS tumors)

Relatlimab will be administered IV, in cohort 5 240mg on day 1 and day 15, in cohort 6 480mg on day 1 and day 29, in cohort 7 160mg on day 1, day 29 and day 57

Sponsors

The Netherlands Cancer Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER
Bristol-Myers Squibb
CollaboratorINDUSTRY

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Signed written informed consent * Patients at least 18 years of age * Non-metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon (and rectosigmoid considered as nonrectal and not undergoing neoadjuvant treatment) * No signs of distant metastases on CT-scan and physical examination; * dMMR cohorts 3+6: \>cT3 and/or N+

Exclusion criteria

* No signs of distant metastases * No signs of obstruction or macroscopic bleeding or suspicion of perforation * Colonoscopy must be performed after registration to obtain study-specific biopsies. If biopsies are not possible, patients cannot be included in the study * WHO performance status of 0 or 1 * No previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA-4, PD-1 or PD-L1 * For patients with MSS tumors: no current use of NSAIDs or COX2-inhibitors at registration and no active peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding, unstable ischemic heart disease of thrombus etiology or significant established ischemic heart disease, peripheral arterial disease and/or cerebrovascular disease * No radiotherapy prior to or planned post-surgery radiotherapy * No history of allergy to study drug components, severe hypersensitivity reaction to any monoclonal antibody, allergy or severe hypersensitivity to NSAIDs or COX2-I (MSS tumors) * No intercurrent illnesses, including but not limited to infections, unstable angina pectoris * No positive test for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV antibody) indicating acute or chronic infection * No autoimmune disease * No conditions requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (10 mg daily prednisone or more and equivalents) or other immunosuppressive medications within 14 days of study drug administration * No live vaccines in the 4 weeks prior to inclusion

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of adverse events during the treatment and follow-up (safety)until 100 days after last patient last study drug treatmentAdverse events will be assessed (according to CTCAE v4.0) during treatment and follow-up.
Disease free survivaluntil 5 years after diagnosisTo assess efficacy of neoadjuvant ipilimumab plus nivolumab in terms of disease-free survival
Major Pathological ResponseFrom date of randomization until the date of first documented progression, assessed up to 63 monthsTo assess efficacy of neoadjuvant nivolumab monotherapy and neoadjuvant nivolumab plus relatlimab in terms of major pathologic response

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immune activating capacity of short-term pre-operative immunotherapywithin 2 years after study completionidentify underlying potential escape mechanisms by comparing pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies
Relapse free survival3-5 years after last patient inclusion.

Countries

Netherlands

Contacts

CONTACTMarieke van de Belt
m.vd.belt@nki.nl+3120512
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMyriam Chalabi, MD

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 6, 2026