Metastatic Colorectal AdenocarcinomaPhase 2NCT04729322
Fecal Microbiota Transplant and Re-introduction of Anti-PD-1 Therapy (Pembrolizumab or Nivolumab) for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Anti-PD-1 Non-responders
A Phase 2 study testing Biopsy, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule in people with Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma and Metastatic Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma, run by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This phase II trial studies the effect of fecal microbiota transplant and re-introduction of anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) in treating anti-PD-1 non-responders with colorectal cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8
- What is being tested?
- Biopsy, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine, Injection or infusion, Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 22 Feb 2021to 31 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility Criteria:
Participant Inclusion Criteria:
Participants are eligible to be included in the study only if all of the following criteria apply:
- At least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent
- Histologically/cytologically confirmed diagnosis of solid tumor
- Tumor that is deficient in mismatch repair (dMMR) or microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) as determined by one of three methods:
- Immunohistochemistry determined dMMR by complete loss of MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 or MSH6
- PCR determined microsatellite instability at >30% of tested microsatellites
- Next-generation determined MSI-H based upon instability at multiple microsatellites as determined by the specific next generation sequencing panel
- Have metastatic disease that is measurable based on iRECIST v1.1.
- Demonstrated prior progression on anti-PD1/L1 based therapy by radiographic progression. The potential for psuedoprogression should be excluded by concurrent carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or other tumor marker or ctDNA elevation, or clinical symptom progression, or short interval repeat imaging confirming progression.
- Must have received at least 2 doses of a PD1/PD-L1 inhibitor
- Progressive disease either during therapy or within 2 months of last dose of therapy.
- An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1.
- Patients must be willing to undergone mandatory tumor biopsies at pre-treatment, at time of colonoscopy if possible and on-treatment (unless deemed unsafe by interventional radiology or by approval by study PI).
- The participant (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written informed consent for the trial.
- Estimated life-expectancy of > 4 months.
- Adequate hematological function, defined by white blood cell (WBC) count ≥ 3,000/microL, platelet count ≥75,000/microL, and Hgb ≥ 8 g/dL.
- Adequate hepatic function defined by a total bilirubin level ≤ 1.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN)[except if Gilberts syndrome and then total bilirubin ≤ 3x is allowed], an AST, level ≤ 2.5 × ULN, and an ALT level ≤ 2.5 × ULN. If liver metastases are present, then AST and ALT levels must be ≤ 4 × ULN
- Adequate renal function defined by an estimated creatinine clearance >30 mL/min according to the Cockcroft-Gault formula or by a creatinine clearance measurement from a 24-hour urine collection.
- Highly effective contraception for both male and female subjects if the risk of conception exists. Highly effective contraception must be used 30 days prior to first study-drug administration, for the duration of trial treatment, and for at least for 6 months (women and men after taking your last dose of any of the trial drugs (see Appendix 3 for further details). Should a female patient (or male patient's sexual partner) become pregnant or should either the female patient (or male patient's partner) suspect she is pregnant while the patient's study-participation is ongoing, the treating physician should be informed immediately.
Participant Exclusion Criteria:
Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
- Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 2 weeks of study treatment (excluding continuation of ongoing nivolumab or pembrolizumab therapy).
- If participant received major surgery within last 4 weeks, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment.
- Has an ileostomy or colostomy bag.
- Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities (excluding skin toxicity), not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
- Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
- Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency (excluding IgA deficiency).
- Has an active autoimmune condition and is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
- Subjects requiring hormone replacement with corticosteroids are eligible if the steroids are administered only for the purpose of hormonal replacement and at doses ≤ 10mg of prednisone or equivalent per day.
- Administration of steroids for other conditions through a route known to result in a minimal systemic exposure (topical, intranasal, intro-ocular, or inhalation) is acceptable.
- Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab or nivolumab and/or any of its excipients.
- Serious adverse immune related adverse events (grade 3 or 4) with previous immune checkpoint therapy, that were symptomatic and required prolong immunosuppression (>6weeks).
- Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
- Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the study subject's best interest to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
- Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
- Pregnant or nursing women
- For women of childbearing age, a positive urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to enrollment. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Pilot Trial of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Re-Introduction of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in dMMR Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Anti-PD-1 Non-Responders
This phase II trial studies the effect of fecal microbiota transplant and re-introduction of anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) in treating anti-PD-1 non-responders with colorectal cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Fecal microbiota transplants contain the normal bacteria and viruses found in fecal (stool) material. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving pembrolizumab or nivolumab with fecal microbiota transplants may help to control the disease.
Read the detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To evaluate the efficacy of pembrolizumab or nivolumab in conjunction with fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from PD-1 responding mismatch-repair deficiency (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for treatment of PD-1 non-responding dMMR CRC patient.
- Conditions
- Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IV Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IVA Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8
- Being tested
- Biopsy, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule, Metronidazole, Neomycin
- Medical subject headings
- Colorectal Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
BiopsyProcedure or surgery
Also called BIOPSY_TYPE, Bx
Undergo biopsy
Fecal Microbiota TransplantationProcedure or surgery
Also called Fecal Material Transplantation, Fecal Transplantation, FMT, Poo Transplant
Undergo colonoscopic FMT
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation CapsuleDrug
Also called Fecal Microbiota Preparation Delivery Capsule, FMPCapDE, FMT Capsule DE, FMT Capsule Delivery
Given PO
MetronidazoleDrug
Also called Flagyl, Flagyl I.V. RTU, Tricom
Given PO
NeomycinDrug
Also called Neomycin Complex
Given PO
NivolumabBiological
Also called BMS-936558, MDX-1106, NIVO, ONO-4538
Given IV
PembrolizumabBiological
Also called Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK-3475, SCH 900475
Given IV
Questionnaire AdministrationOther
Ancillary studies
VancomycinDrug
Given PO
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab) | Experimental | Patients receive metronidazole PO Q8H on days -14 to -8 and then vancomycin PO Q6H and neomycin PO Q6H on days -8 to -6. Patients then undergo colonoscopic FMT on day -5.
POST-COLONOSCOPIC FMT: Patients receive standard of care pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Patients also receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1. Beginning in cycle 2, patients receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Receives: Procedure: Biopsy; Procedure: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Drug: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule; Drug: Metronidazole; Drug: Neomycin; Biological: Pembrolizumab; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Drug: Vancomycin |
| Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) | Experimental | Patients receive metronidazole PO Q8H on days -14 to -8 and then vancomycin PO Q6H and neomycin PO Q6H on days -8 to -6. Patients then undergo colonoscopic FMT on day -5.
POST-COLONOSCOPIC FMT: Patients receive standard of care nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Patients also receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on days 1 and 8 of cycles 1-2. Beginning in cycle 4, patients receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on day 1 of every other cycle. Cycles repeat every 14 days for up to 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Receives: Procedure: Biopsy; Procedure: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Drug: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule; Drug: Metronidazole; Biological: Nivolumab; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Drug: Vancomycin |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Objective response rate
Assessed by Immune-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (iRECIST). Will be summarized by mean, standard error, and 95% confidence interval.
Measured: Up to 3 years post-treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Jan 2021
- Study start22 Feb 2021
- Primary completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Metastatic Colorectal AdenocarcinomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Michael J Overman, Principal investigator, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04729322
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2020-0186
- Other IDs
- NCI-2020-13897, 2020-0186, P50CA221707
- Status last verified
- Jun 2026
- First submitted
- 8 Jan 2021
- Last updated
- 12 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Trial of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Re-Introduction of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in dMMR Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Anti-PD-1 Non-Responders
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04729322
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2020-0186
- Conditions
- Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma, Stage IV Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IV Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma AJCC v8, Stage IVA Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IVB Colorectal Cancer AJCC v8
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Active, not recruiting
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- Study start
- 22 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 28 Jan 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This phase II trial studies the effect of fecal microbiota transplant and re-introduction of anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab) in treating anti-PD-1 non-responders with colorectal cancer that has spread to other places in the body (metastatic). Fecal microbiota transplants contain the normal bacteria and viruses found in fecal (stool) material. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving pembrolizumab or nivolumab with fecal microbiota transplants may help to control the disease.
Detailed description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
- To evaluate the efficacy of pembrolizumab or nivolumab in conjunction with fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) from PD-1 responding mismatch-repair deficiency (dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients for treatment of PD-1 non-responding dMMR CRC patient.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab) | Experimental | Procedure: Biopsy, Procedure: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Drug: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule, Drug: Metronidazole, Drug: Neomycin, Biological: Pembrolizumab, Other: Questionnaire Administration, Drug: VancomycinPatients receive metronidazole PO Q8H on days -14 to -8 and then vancomycin PO Q6H and neomycin PO Q6H on days -8 to -6. Patients then undergo colonoscopic FMT on day -5. POST-COLONOSCOPIC FMT: Patients receive standard of care pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Patients also receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on days 1, 8, and 15 of cycle 1. Beginning in cycle 2, patients receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. |
| Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) | Experimental | Procedure: Biopsy, Procedure: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Drug: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule, Drug: Metronidazole, Biological: Nivolumab, Other: Questionnaire Administration, Drug: VancomycinPatients receive metronidazole PO Q8H on days -14 to -8 and then vancomycin PO Q6H and neomycin PO Q6H on days -8 to -6. Patients then undergo colonoscopic FMT on day -5. POST-COLONOSCOPIC FMT: Patients receive standard of care nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Patients also receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on days 1 and 8 of cycles 1-2. Beginning in cycle 4, patients receive fecal microbiota transplantation capsule PO on day 1 of every other cycle. Cycles repeat every 14 days for up to 6 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| BiopsyAlso: BIOPSY_TYPE, BxUndergo biopsy | Procedure or surgery | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| Fecal Microbiota TransplantationAlso: Fecal Material Transplantation, Fecal Transplantation, FMT, Poo TransplantUndergo colonoscopic FMT | Procedure or surgery | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| Fecal Microbiota Transplantation CapsuleAlso: Fecal Microbiota Preparation Delivery Capsule, FMPCapDE, FMT Capsule DE, FMT Capsule DeliveryGiven PO | Drug | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| MetronidazoleAlso: Flagyl, Flagyl I.V. RTU, TricomGiven PO | Drug | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| NeomycinAlso: Neomycin ComplexGiven PO | Drug | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab) |
| NivolumabAlso: BMS-936558, MDX-1106, NIVO, ONO-4538Given IV | Biological | Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| PembrolizumabAlso: Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK-3475, SCH 900475Given IV | Biological | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab) |
| Questionnaire AdministrationAncillary studies | Other | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
| VancomycinGiven PO | Drug | Arm I (FMT, pembrolizumab), Arm II (FMT, nivolumab) |
Primary outcome
Objective response rate
Time frame: Up to 3 years post-treatment
Assessed by Immune-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (iRECIST). Will be summarized by mean, standard error, and 95% confidence interval.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Jun 2026.
- M D Anderson Cancer CenterLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Michael J Overman principal investigator
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Biopsy, Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Capsule in people with Metastatic Colorectal Adenocarcinoma and Metastatic Small Intestinal Adenocarcinoma, run by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Objective response rate (time frame: Up to 3 years post-treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Jun 2026.