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Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Anti-PD-1 Antibody and Sitagliptin for Locally Advanced pMMR CRC

A Phase Ib/II Study of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Combined With Anti-PD-1 Antibody and DPP4 Inhibitor Sitagliptin for Locally Advanced pMMR Colorectal Cancer

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07365592
Acronym
Neo-CD
Enrollment
138
Registered
2026-01-26
Start date
2026-01-01
Completion date
2029-12-31
Last updated
2026-01-26

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

Conditions

Colorectal Cancer

Brief summary

This is an open-label, multicenter, phase Ib/II combined trial of sitagliptin, XELOX chemotherapy regimen, and PD-1 monoclonal antibody in the treatment of proficient mismatch repair locally advanced colorectal cancer.

Detailed description

Most colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are classified as proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) CRC. This subtype is insensitive to single-agent immunotherapy, with chemotherapy remaining the primary pharmacotherapeutic intervention. Approximately 30% of colon cancer patients develop recurrence and metastasis following initial radical resection combined with 6 months of adjuvant chemotherapy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for tumor downstaging and survival improvement represents a standard approach for locally advanced tumors. However, its application is limited to select rectal cancer populations, and its role in colon cancer remains controversial-primarily due to inadequate tumor regression observed with current regimens. Given that deep tumor regression correlates with improved survival, there is a critical need to enhance NACT efficacy. Neo-CD adopts a combined phase Ib/II study design. Phase Ib Component * Design: Single-center trial utilizing the traditional 3+3 dose-escalation principle. * Objectives: 1. Evaluate the safety of sitagliptin in combination with XELOX (oxaliplatin + capecitabine) and anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody as neoadjuvant therapy for CRC. 2. Determine the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of sitagliptin. 3. Explore the combination's potential for significant tumor regression and modulation of the tumor immune microenvironment. Phase II Component * Design: Prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled superiority trial. * Objective: Compare the efficacy of neoadjuvant XELOX + sitagliptin + anti-PD-1 versus standard neoadjuvant XELOX in locally advanced CRC, with a focus on significant tumor regression (TRG 0/1 rate). Study Procedures All participants will receive 2 cycles of the assigned neoadjuvant treatment, followed by radical surgery. Primary Endpoints * Phase Ib: Incidence of adverse events (AEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). * Phase II: Proportion of patients achieving tumor regression grade 0/1 (TRG 0/1).

Interventions

DRUGOxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin 130mg/m2 for inducing chemotherapy in Day 1 every 3 weeks and repeat for two cycles.

DRUGCapecitabine

Oral Capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily combined with oxaliplatin chemotherapy in Day 1 to Day 14 every 3 weeks and repeat for 2 cycles.

DRUGAnti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody

Anti-PD1 antibody 200mg/m2 in Day 1 after oxaliplatin Chemotherapy. Repeat every 3 weeks for 2 cycles.

Oral sitagliptin twice daily combined with oxaliplatin chemotherapy in Day 1 to Day 14 every 3 weeks and repeat for 2 cycles. In the phase Ib study, sitagliptin set at three dose groups: 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day, and 400 mg/day, and the primary endpoint of Ib study is to determine the DLT and recommended phase II dose (RP2D). The appropriate dose level of sitagliptin will be set based on the result of Ib study.

Sponsors

Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Phase Ib Component The study adopts the 3+3 design, with sitagliptin set at three dose groups: 100 mg/day, 200 mg/day, and 400 mg/day. Enrollment starts with 3 patients in Group 1. Dose escalates if no DLT; adds 3 patients if 1 DLT occurs. Escalation continues if ≤1/6 have DLT; stops and de-escalates if ≥2/6 have DLT. The study includes 9-18 patients, with no -1 dose group; the lower safe dose becomes MTD if needed. Phase II Component The current study presets the TRG 0/1 rate at 20% for the XELOX chemotherapy group. The study expects a TRG 0/1 rate of 30% in the investigational group, representing a 10% relative increase in significant tumor regression compared to standard therapy. This is a prospective, multicenter, two-stage randomized controlled interventional study based on a Bayesian adaptive design, with a maximum sample size of 120 patients.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 75 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Pathologically diagnosed colorectal adenocarcinoma * Age ≥18 years old and ≤75 years old * MRI/CT stage T3-4aNany and TanyN1-2, without distant metastasis * Life expectancy of 1 year The above * Informed consent, no contraindications to chemotherapy exist * pMMR diagnosed by IHC

Exclusion criteria

* Refused to participate in this study * Multifocal colorectal cancer * Past history of malignant tumors, except for basal cell carcinoma/papillary thyroid carcinoma/various types of carcinoma in situ * Unable to receive chemotherapy , such as but not limited to bone marrow suppression, etc * Major organ diseases (such as but not limited to COPD, coronary heart disease and renal insufficiency, etc.) acute attack and or severe acute infectious diseases (such as but not limited to hepatitis, pneumonia and myocarditis, etc.), * ASA score\> 3 * Mental disorder or illiteracy or language and communication barriers cannot understand the research plan * Colorectal tumor has obstruction or high risk of obstruction and or there is bleeding and/or perforation * Peripheral sensory nerve disorder, unable to receive oxaliplatin chemotherapy * Lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis (mainly supplied by internal iliac artery) * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Unable to accept MRI examination * Consecutive use of glucocorticoids for more than 3 days within 1 month before signing the consent form * Diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance who may require drug intervention * Other scenarios deemed inappropriate by the investigators

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Adverse events (AEs)From date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study
Dose limiting toxicities (DLTs)The DLT observation period is from the day1 of the first cycle(C1D1) to the start of the day1 of the second cycle(C2D1) dosing, each cycle is 21 days.for Ib study
Proportion of patients achieving tumor regression grade 0/1 (TRG 0/1)1 day of postoperative pathological examination.for II study

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Surgical Complicationwithin 30 days since operationfor II study
Proportion of patients achieving tumor regression grade 3 (TRG 3)1 day of postoperative pathological examination.for II study
Adverse events (AEs)From date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor II study
Proportion of patients achieving tumor regression grade 0/11 day of postoperative pathological examination.for Ib study
Proportion of patients achieving pathological Complete Response1 day of postoperative pathological examination.for Ib study
Proportion of patients achieving Major Pathologic Response1 day of postoperative pathological examination.for Ib study
Area Under the CurveFrom date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study;quantitative measure of the total exposure of the body to a drug over a specific time period.
Maximum ConcentrationFrom date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study; highest plasma or blood concentration of a drug achieved in the body after its administration.
Time to Maximum ConcentrationFrom date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study; the length of time required for a drug to reach its maximum (peak) plasma or blood concentration in the systemic circulation after administration.
ClearanceFrom date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study; the volume of plasma or blood completely cleared of a drug per unit time by the body's eliminating organs
Half-LifeFrom date of first chemotherapy until the date of patients were discharged from hospital after receiving radical surgery, up to 20 weeksfor Ib study; the specific time required for the plasma or blood concentration of a drug in the systemic circulation to decrease by half from its peak level or steady-state level

Countries

China

Contacts

CONTACTJun Li, MD
2307016@zju.edu.cn+86 13777878061
CONTACTXinyi Zhou, MD
3100102575@zju.edu.cn+86 18768115468

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026