
TRAITEMENT DU CANCER COLORECTAL ET MISES À JOUR SUR LA RECHERCHE CLINIQUE
Month Ending February 16th, 2023

The following colorectal cancer treatment and research updates extend from January 19,, 2023, to February 16,, 2023, inclusive and are intended for informational purposes only.
Ce contenu n'est pas destiné à se substituer à un avis médical professionnel. Consultez toujours votre médecin traitant ou les conseils d'un professionnel de la santé qualifié pour toute question concernant votre santé ou un problème médical. Ne négligez jamais l'avis d'un professionnel de la santé et ne tardez jamais à le solliciter en raison d'un élément que vous avez lu sur ce site web.
CONTENU

1. Essai clinique LEAP de phase II pour le traitement du CCRm
2. TRK Fusion Cancer and How to Test for It
3. A Phase II, Open-Label, Multicentre, Study of an Immunotherapeutic Treatment for the MSI High CRC Metastatic Population
4. Phase III Study at the Odette Cancer Centre Comparing Arfolitixorin vs. Leucovorin: Both in Combination with 5FU, Oxaliplatin, and Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced CRC
5. FDA Approves Seagen’s Tukysa, Genentech’s Herceptin for HER2-Positive CRC Patients
6. Mirati Therapeutics’ KRAS G12D Inhibitor Cleared by FDA to Begin Phase I/II Trial
7. Dostarlimab Benefit Signaled for Patients with MRD, Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
8. Surgery First for Colon Cancer?
9. Immunotherapy Combined with Targeted Therapy in Patients With BRAF V600E–Mutated CRC

10. Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump (HAIP) Chemotherapy Program – Sunnybrook Hospital
11. Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Unresectable CRC Liver Metastases
12. In Vivo Lung Perfusion (IVLP) for CRC Metastatic to Lung

13.Étude Proposée Au Centre De Cancérologie D'odette Pour Traiter Les Cancers Rectaux Récurrents

14. Trends in the Incidence of Young-Onset CRC with a Focus on Years Approaching Screening Age
15. Guardant Health, Royal Marsden Partner on Prospective Liquid Biopsy Trial in Early CRC
16. Geneoscopy Submits PMA Application to FDA for Stool-Based CRC Screening Test
17. LifeLabs Launches Signatera, Offering Canadians an Innovative and Personalized Approach to Managing Cancer
18. Natera Announces Publication of Prospective, Multi-Site CIRCULATE Study in Nature Medicine Demonstrating Signatera’s Ability to Predict Chemotherapy Benefit in CRC

19. Young Adult CRC Clinic Available at Sunnybrook Hospital
20. CCRAN’s Partnership with “Count Me In”
21. Patients and Caregivers Needed to Help Shape Early Research for a CRC Therapy
22. Under 50 National Colorectal Cancer Information/Support Group Now Available
23. AYA CAN Priority Setting Partnership

24. EXercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well (EXCEL) Study
25. 4 Healthy Eating Plans to Lower Risk of Heart Disease and Cancer

26. Frequently Asked Questions for COVID-19
MÉDICAMENTS / THÉRAPIES SYSTÉMIQUES
1. Phase II LEAP Clinical Trial For mCRC (Feb.10/23)
Le but de cette étude est de déterminer la sécurité et l'efficacité de la thérapie combinée avec le pembrolizumab (MK-3475) et Levantine la levantine (E7080/MK-7902) chez les patients atteints de cancer du sein triple négatif (TNBC), de cancer des ovaires, de cancer gastrique, cancer colorectal (CCR), glioblastoma (GBM), or biliary tract cancers (BTC). Participants will be enrolled in initial tumor-specific cohorts, which will be expanded if adequate efficacy is determined. The trial is available at the Odette Cancer Centre and at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto as well as the following Centres throughout Canada: Abbotsford, BC; Winnipeg, MB; CHU de Quebec. For information, visit the link below.
2. TRK Fusion Cancer and How to Test for It (Feb.13/23)



https://www.bayer.ca/en/media/news/?dt=TmpBPQ==&st=1
3. A Phase II, Open-label, Multicenter, Study of an Immunotherapeutic Treatment for the MSI High CRC Metastatic Population (Feb.13/23)
L'objectif de cette étude est d'examiner l'efficacité du vaccin DPX-Survivac en combinaison avec les médicaments cyclophosphamide et l'immunothérapie Pembrolizumab in patients with solid cancers who are identified to be MSI-High. All patients will receive combination therapy of DPX-Survivac, cyclophosphamide, and pembrolizumab. Patients participating will know which treatment they are receiving. The trial is currently hosted at the Odette Cancer Centre, and a new site is opening at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
4. Phase III Study at the centre de cancérologie Odette Comparing Arfolitixorin vs. Leucovorin in Combination with 5FU, Oxaliplatin and Bevacizumab in Patients with Advanced CRC (Feb.12/23)
The purpose of this study is to look at the effectiveness of the drug Arfolitixorin in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5FU), oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients with advanced/metastatic CRC who meet certain criteria may be able to participate. There will be two groups of patients participating in this study;
- un groupe recevra de L'arfolitixorine en combinaison avec du 5FU), de l'oxaliplatine et du bevacizumab,
- tandis que l'autre groupe recevra le médicament Leucovorin en combinaison avec le 5FU, l'oxaliplatine et le bevacizumab (norme de soins).
Le médecin et le personnel de l'étude ne sauront pas dans quel groupe se trouve un patient. Les patients seront répartis au hasard pour recevoir l'un ou l'autre traitement.
A propos d'Arfolitixorine:
L'arfolitixorine is Isofol’s proprietary drug candidate being developed to increase the efficacy of standard of care chemotherapy for advanced CRC. The drug candidate is currently being studied in a global Phase 3 clinical trial. As the key active metabolite of the widely used folate-based drugs, arfolitixorin can potentially benefit all patients with advanced CRC, as it does not require complicated metabolic activation to become effective.
Traiter les patients atteints de cancer avec de l'arfolitixorine - Les objectifs :
- When treating CRC, for example, arfolitixorin is administered in combination with 5-FU to increase cell mortality in circulating cancer cells and in cancerous tumours.
- Arfolitixorin is administered in conjunction with rescue therapy after high-dose treatment with the cytotoxic agent, methotrexate, in order to suppress the cytotoxic effect in surrounding healthy tissue. The treatment is used for certain types of cancer, such as osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. This involves administering arfolitixorin separately, 24 hours after the chemotherapy.
https://sunnybrook.ca/trials/item/?i=293&page=49335 et https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03750786
https://isofolmedical.com/arfolitixorin/
5. FDA Approves Seagen’s Tukysa, Genentech’s Herceptin for HER2-Positive CRC Patients (Jan.20/23)
The US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to Seagen’s Tukysa (tucatinib) plus Genentech’s Herceptin (trastuzumab) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) whose tumors are RAS wild-type and HER2-positive and who have received prior chemotherapy. The FDA’s decision to approve the dual HER2-targeted regimen is based on the results of the Phase II MOUNTAINEER trial, in which 84 RAS-wild-type, HER2-positive mCRC patients, who had not received prior anti-HER2 treatment, got the Tukysa-Herceptin combination. In the trial, 38% of patients responded. Three patients, or 3.6%, experienced a complete response and 35% had a partial response. The median duration of response was 12.4 months. Because the FDA approved Tukysa-Herceptin under its accelerated approval program, Seagen will need to demonstrate the drug’s benefit in confirmatory trials. To that end, the drugmaker is conducting the Phase III MOUNTAINEER-03 trial, which pits Tukysa, Herceptin, and chemotherapy against standard of care in this patient population.
According to Seagen, this is the first time the FDA has approved a targeted therapy for CRC patients with HER2-positive tumors. Now that Tukysa is an option for HER2-positive CRC patients, it is necessary to establish biomarker testing as a routine part of care in this population.
6. Mirati Therapeutics’ KRAS G12D Inhibitor Cleared by FDA to Begin Phase I/II Trial (Jan.20/23)
Mirati Therapeutics said the US Food and Drug Administration cleared its investigational new drug (IND) application for MRTX1133, a KRAS G12D inhibitor, to be evaluated in clinical trials. Mirati expects to begin a Phase I/II clinical trial of MRTX1133 early this year in patients with KRAS G12D-mutant tumors, with planned expansion cohorts in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. KRAS G12D mutations occur in approximately 180,000 patients in the US and Europe, according to Mirati, more than twice as prevalent as KRAS G12C mutations. Mirati CSO James Christensen has stated that this particular mutation has been difficult to target, and [they] are confident in [their] novel oral formulation strategy, which [they] believe will enable near-complete target inhibition over the full dosing interval.
7. Dostarlimab Benefit Signaled for Patients with MRD, Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (Jan.17/21)
Single-agent anti-PD-1 therapy with neoadjuvant dostarlimab (Jemperli) showed high sensitivity in patients with mismatch repair deficient (MRD), locally advanced rectal cancer in a phase 2 confirmatory clinical trial. The key goal of the study was to assess the overall response rate of dostarlimab when administered at 500 mg every 3 weeks for 6 months followed by radiation plus standard-dose capecitabine, which was followed by total mesorectal excision. The other end point was sustained clinical complete response 12 months after completion of dostarlimab therapy or pathological complete response.
A 100% clinical complete response rate was achieved with neoadjuvant dostarlimab in 12 patients who received the agent for 6 months. Investigators reported that the median time to rectal MRI was 16 days, and the median time to endoscopy was 20 days post dostarlimab. Responses occurred rapidly, and symptoms of disease were resolved within 9 weeks of starting dostarlimab in 81% of patients. Moreover, an endoscopic complete response occurred in 5 patients, and 2 patients had a radiographic complete response to the anti-PD-1 therapy.
There is now a drug for this population with the mismatch protein deficiency that avoids the use of chemoradiation and surgery, and improves not only cure their disease, but improve their quality-of-life, particularly those young populations.
8. Surgery First for Colon Cancer? (Feb.2/23)
New research finds that immunotherapy from immune checkpoint (PD-1) inhibitors prior to surgery was strikingly effective for patients with localized mismatch repair-deficient or microsatellite instability-high (MMR-D/MSI-H) colorectal cancer (CRC). Nearly all of the patients studied benefitted from neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitors, with 1-of-4 experiencing complete response on clinical assessment. In addition to the short-term effectiveness, the findings showed substantial longer survival benefits from neodjuvant PD-1 inhibitors, including a low recurrence rate when compared with historic rates.
The researchers anticipated PD-1 inhibitors could be at least as effective for locally-advanced but operable cancer as they have historically been in the treatment of metastatic MMR-D/MSI-H CRC, but were surprised to find it so much more effective for this patient population. The study included a retrospective review of 73 patients between ages 18 and 75 with confirmed MMR-D/MSI-H CRC who received any type of PD-1 inhibitor prior to surgery between October 1, 2017 and December 31, 2021. Of those 73, 48 were diagnosed with colon cancer, 18 with rectal cancer, and 7 with multiple types of CRC. 84.9% overall experienced an objective response, with 23.3% showing complete response and 61.6% partial response. The 2-year rates for tumor-specific overall survival and disease-free survival were 100% for patients who underwent surgery after PD-1 blockade.
It’s important to remember the final goal is to cure patients’ long term, not just remove the tumor at the moment, according to the researchers. They believe care providers, especially surgeons, should refrain from scheduling immediate surgery for patients with locally advanced, or even early-stage MMR-D/MSI-H CRC. With such a powerful option at hand, providers have the duty to offer a safer surgery with better outcomes or a non-surgical-yet-equally-effective approach for this group of patients, especially for those who might suffer from function damage or organ sacrifice after surgery.
https://www.cancerhealth.com/article/surgery-first-colon-cancer
9. Immunotherapy Combined with Targeted Therapy in Patients With BRAF V600E–Mutated CRC (Jan.30/23)
In one of the first clinical trials combining immunotherapy and targeted therapy for patients with BRAF V600E–mutated colorectal cancer (CRC), researchers discovered that a combination regimen of dabrafenib, trametinib, and spartalizumab resulted in long-lasting responses. The study successfully met its primary endpoint and achieved a confirmed response rate of 24.3%, compared with a response rate of 7% in a prior trial where patients were treated with each of the same targeted therapies individually. The researchers also reported improved outcomes in one of the trial’s secondary endpoints: durability. Previously, patients with BRAF V600E–mutated CRC have seen only a short-lived clinical benefit after treatment with BRAF or MEK inhibitors. But the combination therapy resulted in an increased durability of response, with a median progression-free survival of 5 months compared with 3.5 months with BRAF or MEK inhibitors alone. The researchers noted that 57% of the patients continued with the treatment for more than 6 months and 18% continued for more than 1 year.
The findings suggested how targeted therapies in combination with immunotherapies may drive a greater immune response and improve treatment overall. This merits further clinical investigation and preclinical experiments to determine the best targeted approach to increase immune reactivity against [BRAF-mutated] CRC. The researchers acknowledged that the implications of their research may go well beyond CRC.
LES THÉRAPIES CHIRURGICALES
10. Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump (HAIP) Chemotherapy Program – Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre (Feb.1/23)
Le programme PPAH est une première au Canada pour les personnes dont le cancer du côlon ou du rectum (cancer colorectal) s'est propagé au foie et ne peut être retiré par une intervention chirurgicale. Le programme implique une approche coordonnée et multidisciplinaire des soins, avec une étroite collaboration entre l'oncologie chirurgicale, l'oncologie médicale (chimiothérapie), la radiologie interventionnelle, la médecine nucléaire et les soins infirmiers en oncologie. La pompe à perfusion de l'artère hépatique (PPAH) est un petit dispositif en forme de disque qui est chirurgicalement implanté juste sous la peau du patient et est relié par un cathéter à l'artère hépatique (principale) du foie. Environ 95 % de la chimiothérapie administrée par cette pompe reste dans le foie, épargnant ainsi le reste du corps des effets secondaires. Les patients reçoivent une chimiothérapie dirigée par PPAH en plus de la chimiothérapie intraveineuse (IV) régulière (chimiothérapie systémique), afin de réduire le nombre et la taille des tumeurs. Drs. Paul Karanicolas and Michael Raphael are the program leads and happy to see patients who may be eligible for the therapy.

Maintenant au centre de cancérologie Odette, le PPAH est utilisé chez les patients atteints d'un cancer colorectal qui s'est propagé au foie et qui ne peut être enlevé chirurgicalement et ne s'est pas propagé à d'autres parties du corps. Les patients qui ont peu (1-5) et de très petites tumeurs dans les poumons peuvent être pris en considération si la maladie pulmonaire est jugée traitable avant le PPAH. Si vous pensez pouvoir bénéficier de cette thérapie et/ou si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur l'essai clinique, votre oncologue médical ou votre chirurgien peut vous adresser par télécopie au 416-480-6179. Pour plus d'informations sur l'essai clinique PPAH, veuillez cliquer sur le lien fourni ci-dessous
http://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=colorectal-colon-bowel-haip-chemotherapy
11. Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Unresectable CRC Liver Metastases (Feb.2/23)
Environ la moitié des patients atteints de cancer colorectal (CCR) développent des métastases, généralement au niveau du foie et des poumons. L'ablation chirurgicale des métastases hépatiques (MH) est la seule option de traitement, bien que seulement 20 à 40 % des patients soient candidats à un traitement chirurgical. La thérapie chirurgicale apporte un avantage significatif en termes de survie, avec une survie à 5 ans après résection du foie de 40 à 50 % pour les MH, contre 10 à 20 % pour la chimiothérapie seule. La transplantation du foie (TF) permettrait d'éliminer toute maladie évidente dans les cas où les métastases colorectales sont isolées au foie mais considérées comme non résécables.

Source de l'image : https://www.slideshare.net/AhmedAdel65/preoperative
While CRC LM is considered a contraindication for LT at most cancer centers, a single center in Oslo, Norway demonstrated a 5-year survival of 56%. A clinical trial sponsored by the University Health Network in Toronto will offer live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) to select patients with unresectable metastases limited to the liver and are non-progressing on standard chemotherapy. Patients will be screened for liver transplant suitability and must also have a healthy living donor come forward for evaluation. Patients who undergo LDLT will be followed for survival, disease-free survival, and quality of life for 5 years and compared to a control group who discontinue the study before transplantation due to reasons other than cancer progression.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02864485
12. In Vivo Lung Perfusion (IVLP) for CRC Metastatic to Lung (Nov.19/22)
A new study is investigating a technique called In Vivo Lung Perfusion (IVLP) for delivering chemotherapy directly into the lungs at the time of surgery. Delivering chemotherapy directly to the lungs could potentially kill any microscopic cancer cells that are present in the lungs at the time of surgery, while sparing other major organs in the body from the side effects of chemotherapy.
At the University Health Network, this IVLP technique has been used recently in a Phase I study in patients with sarcoma, and they are now expanding on that experience to include patients with colorectal metastases. The purpose of this study is to test the safety of the IVLP technique and find the dose that seems right in humans. Participants are given oxaliplatin into one lung via IVLP and are watched very closely to see what side effects they have and to make sure the side effects are not severe. If the side effects are not severe, then more participants are asked to join the study and are given a higher dose of oxaliplatin. Participants joining the study later on will get higher doses of oxaliplatin than participants who join earlier. This will continue until a dose is found that causes severe but temporary side effects. The other lung will not be infused with anything, so that researchers can limit unforeseen toxicity to a single lung and see if one lung does better than the other.
The estimated enrolment is 10 participants, each with a diagnosis of colorectal carcinoma. The primary outcome is safety as measured by acute lung injury findings and the estimated primary completion date is January 1, 2027.

In Vivo Lung Perfusion Model
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05611034?term=ivlp&draw=2&rank=1
Source de l'image : https://pie.med.utoronto.ca/TVASurg/project/in-vivo-lung-perfusion/
LES RADIOTHÉRAPIES/RADIOLOGIE INTERVENTIONNELLE
13. Study Offered at the Odette Cancer Centre to Treat Recurrent Rectal Cancer (Feb.9/23)
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRg-FU) is a less invasive; outpatient modality being investigated for the thermal treatment of cancer. In MRg-FU, a specially designed transducer is used to focus a beam of low-intensity ultrasound energy into a small volume at a specific target site in the body. MR is used to identify and delineate the tumour, focus the ultrasound beam on the target, and provide a real-time thermal mapping to ensure accurate heating of the designated target with minimal effect to the adjacent healthy tissue. The focused ultrasound beam produces therapeutic hyperthermia (40-42°C) in the target field, causing protein denaturation and cell damage. Currently, there is no prospective clinical data reported on the use of MRg-FU in the setting of recurrent rectal cancer. Recurrent rectal cancer is a vexing clinical problem. Current retreatment protocols have limited efficacy. The addition of hyperthermia to radiation and chemotherapy may enhance the therapeutic response. With recent advances in technology, the investigators hypothesize that MRg-FU is technically feasible and can be safely used in combination with concurrent reirradiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent rectal cancer without increased side-effects. The study is being offered at the Odette Cancer Centre. Here is the link to the study protocol:

DÉPISTAGE
14. Trends in the Incidence of Young-Onset CRC with a Focus on Years Approaching Screening Age (Feb.10/23)
With recent evidence for the increasing risk of young-onset colorectal cancer (yCRC), the objective of this population-based longitudinal study was to evaluate the incidence of yCRC in one-year age increments, particularly focusing on the screening age of 50 years. The study was conducted using linked administrative health databases in British Columbia, Canada including a provincial cancer registry, inpatient/outpatient visits, and vital statistics from January 1, 1986 to December 31, 2016. Researchers calculated the incidence rates per 100,000 at every age from 20 to 60 years and estimated annual percent change in incidence (APCi) of yCRC using joinpoint regression analysis. 3,614 individuals were identified with yCRC (49.9% women). The incidence of CRC steadily rose from 20 to 60 years, with a marked increase from 49 to 50 years. Furthermore, there was a trend of increased incidence of yCRC among women. Analyses stratified by age yielded APCi’s of 2.49% and 0.12% for women aged 30-39 years and 40-49 years, respectively and 2.97% and 1.86% for men. These findings indicate a steady increase over one-year age increments in the risk of yCRC during the years approaching and beyond screening age. These findings highlight the need to raise awareness as well as continue discussions regarding considerations of lowering the screening age.
15. Guardant Health, Royal Marsden Partner on Prospective Liquid Biopsy Trial in Early CRC (Jan.19/23)

Guardant Health announced that they are partnering with the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust on part C of its TRACC (Tracking mutations in cell-free DNA to predict Relapse in eArly Colorectal Cancer) study, which will evaluate the use of circulating tumor DNA to guide chemotherapy treatment decisions after curative-intent surgery in patients with early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). The trial is intended to assess whether the company’s Guardant Reveal assay can accurately identify patients that can be spared unnecessary chemotherapy and its associated side effects based on a negative blood test result after their tumor is removed surgically.
Patients with high-risk stage II and stage III CRC are routinely offered chemotherapy after surgery to help reduce their risk of relapse from microscopic minimal residual disease. But research has shown that up to 80% of these patients may be cured by their surgery alone, receiving no benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients with high-risk CRC are often overtreated and can suffer long-term neurotoxicity from chemotherapy.
Source de l'image : https://www.taconic.com/taconic-insights/oncology-immuno-oncology/liquid-biopsy-news.html
16. Geneoscopy Submits PMA Application to FDA for Stool-Based CRC Screening Test (Jan.24/23)
Diagnostics firm Geneoscopy has submitted a premarket approval (PMA) application to the US FDA for its stool-based screening test to detect colorectal cancer (CRC) and advanced adenomas in average-risk individuals. The PMA bid is supported by data from a trial called CRC-PREVENT, in which the RNA-based assay demonstrated 94% sensitivity for CRC and 45% sensitivity for advanced adenomas, a precursor lesion typically removed when identified during a colonoscopy. According to the company, the CRC-PREVENT results meet or exceed the sensitivity profiles reported for other noninvasive CRC screening tests in a prospective setting. As such, the company believes it will be successful in seeing its test approved by the FDA. The agency named the assay a breakthrough device in 2021, a designation that can confer a speedier review process.
17. LifeLabs Launches Signatera, Offering Canadians an Innovative and Personalized Approach to Managing Cancer (Feb.1/23)
LifeLabs is pleased to share the launch of Signatera, a highly sensitive, personalized molecular residual disease assay (MRD) test developed by Natera for treatment monitoring and molecular residual disease (MRD) assessment in patients previously diagnosed with cancer. This innovative test uses circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and is personalized for each patient to help assess recurrence risk and identify relapse up to two years earlier than the current standard of care tools. The clinical utility of Signatera across cancer types has been validated by multiple studies. In those trials, Signatera demonstrated predictive values such as:

Signatera testing involves two phases with pre-supplied collection kits. The first phase is an initial test that analyzes both a tumour tissue and blood sample, and the second phase involves subsequent blood tests on an as-needed basis. It is a safe, non-invasive way to monitor ctDNA levels to help physicians understand treatment efficacy and detect relapse without the inconvenience of repeated tissue biopsies and/or imaging.
18. Natera Announces Publication of Prospective, Multi-Site CIRCULATE Study in Nature Medicine Demonstrating Signatera’s Ability to Predict Chemotherapy Benefit in CRC (Jan.17/23)
Natera, Inc., a global leader in cell-free DNA testing, announced the publication of a new study in Nature Medicine, which demonstrates the ability of the Signateramolecular residual disease (MRD) test to identify patients with stage II-IV colorectal cancer (CRC) who are at an increased risk of recurrence and predict who is likely to benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT).
The paper describes results from the GALAXY arm of the ongoing CIRCULATE-Japan trial, which is one of the largest and most comprehensive prospective studies of MRD testing in resectable CRC. The data builds on results previously presented at the 2022 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO GI), now with median clinical follow-up extended to 16.74 months and DFS assessment at 18 months.
In the study, 1,039 patients with stage II-IV resectable CRC were monitored prospectively using the Signatera MRD test. Key takeaways include:
- Post-surgical MRD status was predictive of chemotherapy benefit
- Post-surgical MRD status was the most significant prognostic risk factor for recurrence, in a multivariate analysis that accounted for all clinicopathological risk factors currently used for prognostication (HR 10.82, p-value <0.001).
- Pre-surgical detection rate of 95.9% in patients with pathologic stage II-III disease and 93.1% in patients with stage II-IV disease.
- Signatera dynamics are indicative of treatment response
This study provides strong evidence that Signatera MRD-positive patients will benefit significantly from adjuvant therapy, while MRD-negative patients may be safely observed, regardless of clinical or pathological stage.
AUTRE
19. Young Adult CRC Clinic Available at Sunnybrook (Feb.5/23)
A recent study led by the University of Toronto doctors has observed a rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) rates in patients under the age of 50. The study mirrors findings from the U.S., Australia and Europe. The growing CRC rates iA recent study led by the University of Toronto doctors has observed a rise in colorectal cancer (CRC) rates in patients under the age of 50. The study mirrors findings from the U.S., Australia and Europe. The growing CRC rates in young people come after decades of declining rates in people over 50, which have occurred most likely due to increased use of CRC screening (through population-based screening programs) which can identify and remove precancerous polyps. Patients diagnosed under the age of 50 have a unique set of needs, challenges and worries. They are unlike those diagnosed over the age of 50. Dr. Shady Ashamalla (colorectal cancer surgical oncologist), along with Dr. Petra Wildgoose (Hepatobiliary and Colorectal Oncology Surgical Assistant), and their team at the du Centre des sciences de la santé Sunnybrook comprennent les besoins de cette population de patients.

Dr. Shady Ashamalla, Head
Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Program

Dr. Petra Wildgoose, Lead
Young Adult Colorectal Cancer Program
Both belong to a multidisciplinary team of experts in the La Clinique Du Cancer Colorectal Des Jeunes Adultes who work with young CRC patients, regardless of disease stage, to create an individualized treatment plan to support each patient through their cancer journey. Patients’ needs and concerns will be addressed as they relate to:
- Préoccupations et questions relatives à la fécondité
- Les jeunes enfants à la maison
- Questions relatives aux données et à l'intimité
- Les défis au travail
- Inquiétudes concernant le cancer héréditaire
- Relations avec la famille et les amis
- Stress psychologique dû à l'un ou à l'ensemble des éléments ci-dessus
L'équipe d'experts est composée de :
- Oncologues (médicaux, chirurgicaux, radiologiques)
- Travailleurs sociaux
- Psychologues
- Généticiens
- Infirmière navigatrice
Si un patient souhaite être orienté vers Sunnybrook, il peut demander à son médecin traitant ou à son spécialiste de l'orienter vers Sunnybrook via le formulaire d'orientation électronique, accessible via le lien figurant ci-dessous. Une fois l'orientation reçue La Clinique Du Cancer Colorectal Des Jeunes Adultes sera informée si le patient a moins de 50 ans. Un rendez-vous sera alors fixé, au cours duquel le patient rencontrera différents membres de l'équipe afin de répondre à leurs préoccupations spécifiques.
http://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=young-adult-colorectal-cancer-clinic
20. CCRAN’s Partnership with “Count Me In” (Feb.1/23)
CCRAN is proud to partner with Count Me In, a nonprofit research initiative, on The Colorectal Cancer Project. This new project is open to anyone in the United States or Canada who has ever been diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC). Patients can find out more and join at JoinCountMeIn.org/Colorectal.
Through the project, patients are asked to complete surveys to share information about their experience with CRC, to share biological sample(s), and to allow for the research team to request copies of their medical records. The project team then de-identifies and shares data from these with the entire research community. 10
Every patient’s story holds a piece of the puzzle that can help us better understand CRC. By discovering more about what drives cancer and sharing this data, CCRAN and the Colorectal Cancer Project believe insights can be gained to develop more effective therapies. One of the aims of the project is to reach populations that have been understudied, including individuals who are diagnosed with CRC at a young age, individuals from marginalized communities who have historically been excluded from research, and patients with metastatic CRC. Together, we can accelerate our understanding of CRC. To learn more or sign up to participate, visit JoinCountMeIn.org/Colorectal.

“Count Me In”, a nonprofit cancer research initiative, is inviting all patients across the United States and Canada who have ever been diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) to participate in research and help drive new discoveries related to this disease. The Colorectal Cancer Project will enable patients to easily share their samples, health information and personal lived experiences directly with researchers in order to accelerate the pace of research.
Patients who have been diagnosed with CRC at any point in their lives can join the project by visiting JoinCountMeIn.org/colorectal. From there, patients will be invited to share information about their experience through surveys and to provide access to medical records as well as saliva samples and optional blood, stool, and/or stored tissue samples for study and analysis. Researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute use this information to generate databases of clinical, genomic, molecular, and patient-reported data that is then de-identified and shared with researchers everywhere. To date, more than 9,000 patients with different cancers have joined Count Me In and shared their data. “We still do not know why there is an alarming rise in CRC in young adults”, said Andrea Cercek, MD Co-Director, Center for Young Onset Colorectal and Gastrointestinal Cancers Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and co-scientific leader of the Colorectal Cancer Project. “What we do know is that this is a global phenomenon that affects otherwise healthy individuals with no known risk factors. The Colorectal Cancer Project will provide researchers important information that will lead to a better understanding of this disease.”

Over 250 patients have joined the Colorectal Cancer Project since the launch in fall 2021. Every patient that joins the Colorectal Cancer Project enables us to learn more about colorectal cancer. Pts diagnosed at any age, whether newly diagnosed or years from their diagnosis, can enroll. If you have ever been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you can visit JoinCountMeIn.org/Colorectal to enroll and have a direct impact on research and future treatment strategies.




21. Patients and Caregivers Needed to Help Shape Early Research for a CRC Therapy (Feb.10/23)

22. Under 50 National Colorectal Cancer Information/Support Group Now Available at CCRAN! (Feb.2/23)
ARE YOU AN EARLY AGE ONSET (<50 YEARS) COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENT OR CAREGIVER LOOKING FOR INFORMATION OR SUPPORT?
Meet Hayley Painter R.N. and proud survivor of metastatic colorectal cancer!

Hayley will be assuming the lead on CCRAN’s Monthly National Under 50 Colorectal Cancer
Information/Support Group Meetings!
When: Every third Sunday of the month
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where: Via Zoom
To Register: Hayley.p@ccran.org
Please join Hayley as she will deliver important treatment updates and provide optimal support to each patient in their colorectal cancer journey at these support group meetings. To register for the meeting, please contact Hayley at hayley.p@ccran.org.
23. AYA CAN Priority Setting Partnership (Jan.31/23)
Help establish research priorities for AYA Cancer in Canada
Researchers at the University of Calgary have partnered with AYA CAN to lead a priority setting partnership (PSP). The PSP will establish a new research agenda for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer in Canada. They are recruiting members to serve on a Steering Committee to guide the project. Make sure that future research on AYA Cancer in Canada is what matters most to patients, survivors, caregivers, and clinicians.
Committee members can be:
- AYA patients or survivors (diagnosed between the ages of 15-39 years)
- Caregivers / family members of an AYA
- Bereaved caregivers or family members
- Healthcare professionals with experience caring for AYAs
- Policy makers for AYA Cancer at the local, provincial, and/or national level
The meetings will be online and take place approximately once a month for the next 18 months. Patients and family members will be compensated for their time. For more information and to submit an expression of interest, access the form in English and French.
Link to submission form: https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_8uH0URJ6hspxPcW
Expressions of interest will be collected until February 12,, 2023.
NUTRITION/MODE DE VIE SAIN
25. Exercise for Cancer to Enhance Living Well (EXCEL) Study (Feb.9/23)

New research led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and published today in JAMA Internal Medicine reports that participants who followed at least one of four healthy eating patterns were less likely than others to die from heart disease, cancer, or respiratory disease. The eating patterns examined include: Healthy Eating Index 2015, Alternate Mediterranean Diet, Healthful Plant-based Diet Index, Alternate Healthy Eating Index. All eating patterns share key ingredients including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, although other components including meat consumption differ across different eating patterns. The study findings are consistent with the current dietary guidelines for America, which recommend multiple healthy eating patterns.
Rather than selecting one of the indexes over another, nutrition experts recommend integrating the backbones of all the healthy eating indexes because they all include several key components of balanced eating. Components of healthy eating include:
- High intake of a variety of vegetables and fruits daily
- Consumption of whole grains vs. refined grains
- Less red meat
- More plant-based lean proteins in addition to poultry and fish
- Limited intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods with added sugar.
Source de l'image : https://www.heartandstroke.ca/healthy-living/healthy-eating/healthy-eating-basics
MISES À JOUR COVID-19
26. Frequently Asked Questions for COVID-19
Q: What is COVID-19 (or novel Coronavirus Disease – 19)?
A: Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses in humans and animals. Coronaviruses can cause illnesses that range in severity from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and most recently, COVID-19. COVID-19 or novel coronavirus originated from an outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The most common symptoms associated with COVID-19 can include fever, fatigue, and a dry cough. Though additional symptoms have now been linked with the disease, which may include aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea, skin rash and vomiting. It is also possible to become infected with COVID-19 and not experience any symptoms or feeling ill. The spread of COVID-19 is mainly through the transmission of droplets from the nose or mouth when a person coughs, exhales or sneezes. These droplets land on surfaces around a nearby person. COVID-19 can be transmitted to that nearby person who may end up touching the surface contaminated with COVID-19 and then end up touching their nose, mouth, or eyes. A person can also contract COVID-19 through inhaling these droplets from someone with COVID-19. Although research is still ongoing, it is important to note that older populations (over the age of 65), those with a compromised immune system and those with pre-existing conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease, diabetes or cancer may be at a higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-acoronaviruses
Q: What can I do to avoid getting Coronavirus?
A: There are various ways in which we can reduce our risk of contracting COVID-19. Below are some measures suggested by the World Health Organization
1. Keep at least 2 metres (or 6 feet) between yourself and other people. This will reduce the risk of inhaling droplets from those infected with COVID-19.
2. Regularly clean your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap, or an alcohol-based hand rub. This will kill any viruses on your hands.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. If the virus is on your hands, it can enter the body through these areas.
4. Follow good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when you cough and sneeze. This prevents the droplets from settling on surfaces or being released into the air around you.
5. Stay home as much as possible, especially if you are feeling unwell. If you think you may have the Coronavirus, please see “What should I do if I think I have Coronavirus?” section.
6. Please wear a face covering or mask in public when physical distancing is not possible.
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-adetail/q-a-coronaviruses
Y a-t-il des précautions particulières que les personnes atteintes d'un cancer peuvent prendre ?
R : Les personnes atteintes de cancer (et d'autres maladies chroniques telles que les maladies cardiaques, le diabète, l'hypertension et les maladies pulmonaires) sont plus exposées à une maladie grave en raison de la COVID-19, le cancer étant considéré comme un problème de santé préexistant. Certains traitements contre le cancer, notamment la chimiothérapie, les radiations et la chirurgie, peuvent affaiblir le système immunitaire, ce qui rend l'organisme plus difficile à combattre les infections et les virus, comme le Coronavirus. Il est important de suivre avec diligence les recommandations de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé ci-dessus pour réduire le risque de contracter le COVID-19. Si vous avez des inquiétudes quant à votre risque, il est préférable de contacter votre médecin ou votre équipe de soins.
Y a-t-il des changements en ce qui concerne mes visites médicales liées au cancer ? Chaque patient et chaque plan de traitement étant uniques, il est toujours préférable de contacter votre prestataire de soins de santé pour obtenir des informations actualisées sur votre plan de traitement. Dans certains cas, il est possible de retarder le traitement du cancer jusqu'à ce que le risque de pandémie ait diminué. Dans d'autres cas, il peut être sûr de se rendre dans une clinique distincte de celle où sont traités les patients COVID-19. Les options de traitement oral pourraient être prescrites par votre prestataire de soins de manière virtuelle, sans qu'il soit nécessaire de se rendre à la clinique. Enfin, certains rendez-vous ou discussions de suivi pourraient être organisés virtuellement (via skype ou zoom par exemple) ou par téléphone pour minimiser votre risque. Comme nous le savons, les conditions et les protocoles changent quotidiennement en raison de la nature de l'épidémie de COVID-19 et varient en fonction du lieu, par conséquent, la meilleure première étape consiste à demander conseil à votre prestataire de soins.
https://www.cancer.gov/contact/emergencypreparedness/coronavirus
Si vous souhaitez contacter votre agence locale de santé publique, veuillez voir ci-dessous.
Alberta
Informations COVID-19 pour Alberta
Les médias sociaux : Instagram @albertahealthservices, Facebook @albertahealthservices, Twitter @GoAHealth
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Colombie-Britannique
Informations COVID-19 pour Colombie-Britannique
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @ImmunizeBC, Twitter @CDCofBC
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Manitoba
Informations COVID-19 pour Manitoba
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @manitobagovernment, Twitter @mbgov
Numéro de téléphone : 1-888-315-9257
Nouveau Brunswick
Informations COVID-19 pour Nouveau-Brunswick
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @GovNB, Twitter @Gov_NB, Instagram @gnbca
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Terre-Neuve et Labrador
Informations COVID-19 pour Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @GovNL, Twitter @GovNL, Instagram @govnlsocial
Numéro de téléphone : 811 ou 1-888-709-2929
Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Informations COVID-19 pour Territoires du Nord-Ouest
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @NTHSSA
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Nouvelle-Écosse
Informations COVID-19 pour Nouvelle-Écosse
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @NovaScotiaHealthAuthority , Twitter @healthns, Instagram @novascotiahealthauthority
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Nunavut
Informations COVID-19 pour Nunavut
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @GovofNunavut , Twitter @GovofNunavut, Instagram @gouvernement du Nunavut
Numéro de téléphone : 1-888-975-8601
Ontario
Informations COVID-19 pour Ontario
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @ONThealth, Twitter @ONThealth , Instagram @ongov
Numéro de téléphone : 1-866-797-0000
Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Informations COVID-19 pour Île-du-Prince-Édouard
Social media: Facebook @GovPe, Twitter @InfoPEI, 16
Québec
Informations COVID-19 pour Québec
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @GouvQc, Twitter @sante_qc
Numéro de téléphone : 1-877-644-4545
Saskatchewan
Informations COVID-19 pour Saskatchewan
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @SKGov, Twitter @SKGov
Numéro de téléphone : 811
Yukon
Informations COVID-19 pour Yukon
Les médias sociaux : Facebook @yukonhss, Twitter @hssyukon
Numéro de téléphone : 811