Dr. Ciombor on the Goals of the COLOMATE Trial in mCRC

Kristen Ciombor, MD, MSCI, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the goals of the COLOMATE protocol in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

COLOMATE is an umbrella screening protocol that is seeking to match patients in academic and community centers with appropriate targeted therapy, explains Ciombor. Patients will undergo molecular profiling or liquid biopsy, and according to their profile, will be directed to an appropriate basket trial through the ACCRU network.

Currently-accruing trials include those evaluating anti-HER2, EGFR rechallenge, and anti-FGFR strategies, among others. An additional basket trial will evaluate therapies for patients without activating alterations in an attempt to identify treatments for those who have exhausted standard therapy, says Ciombor.

In addition to identifying potentially beneficial treatments, liquid biopsies can be used to monitor a patient's response to treatment over time. These tests can also detect, through circulating tumor DNA, whether the patient is responding to treatment earlier than CT scans or other imaging modalities. In the absence of response, liquid biopsies may also be able to identify mechanisms of resistance and inform additional targeted strategies, concludes Ciombor.