AVEVAC: A phase I-II trial with avelumab plus autologous dendritic cell (ADC) vaccine in pre-treated mismatch repair-proficient (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients (GEMCAD 16-02)

Abstract

Background: Monoclonal antibodies against checkpoint inhibitors (CHKPNT) such as pembrolizumab showed clinical benefit in patients with microsatellite instability (MSI) in mCRC but not in MSS patients. Cancer vaccines with ADC could be a complementary therapeutic approach to CHKPNT. We previously conducted a negative randomized phase II trial in mCRC patients refractory to standard therapy, with ADC compared to the best supportive (Eur J Cancer 64:167-74, 2016). A phase I-II multicentric trial with avelumab (anti-PD-L1) plus ADC vaccine in pre-treated MSS mCRC patients began in April 2018.