Olaparib with or without bevacizumab versus bevacizumab plus a fluoropyrimidine as maintenance therapy in advanced colorectal cancer: The randomized phase 3 LYNK-003 study

Eur J Cancer. 2024 Jul:205:114036. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2024.114036. Epub 2024 Mar 21.

Abstract

Background: The randomized, open-label, phase III LYNK-003 study assessed the efficacy of first-line maintenance olaparib, alone or in combination with bevacizumab, versus bevacizumab plus a fluoropyrimidine in participants with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We present results of the prespecified interim futility analysis.

Methods: Eligible participants were ≥18 years of age with unresectable or mCRC that had not progressed after induction with first-line bevacizumab plus 5-fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin plus leucovorin (FOLFOX) or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (CAPOX). Participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to olaparib plus bevacizumab, olaparib alone, or bevacizumab plus a fluoropyrimidine (5-fluorouracil or capecitabine). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) per RECIST v1.1 by central review.

Results: Between August 2020 and May 2022, 309 participants were assigned to olaparib plus bevacizumab (n = 104), olaparib (n = 107), or bevacizumab plus fluoropyrimidine (n = 98). At interim analysis, with a median follow-up of 7.6 months (range 0.1-19.7 months), the median PFS was 3.7 months (95% CI 2.8-5.3) with olaparib plus bevacizumab (HR 1.52; 95% CI 1.02-2.27; P = 0.982) and 3.5 months (95% CI 2.0-3.7) with olaparib (HR 2.11; 95% CI 1.39-3.18; P = 0.999) versus 5.6 months (95% CI 3.8-5.9) with bevacizumab plus fluoropyrimidine. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 64 (62%), 52 (50%), and 57 (59%) participants, respectively. There were no treatment-related deaths.

Conclusion: The LYNK-003 study was stopped prematurely as criteria for futility were met. Maintenance olaparib with or without bevacizumab did not demonstrate clinical efficacy compared with bevacizumab plus a fluoropyrimidine.

Gov registration: NCT04456699.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Olaparib; Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Clinical Trial, Phase III
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols* / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols* / therapeutic use
  • Bevacizumab* / administration & dosage
  • Bevacizumab* / adverse effects
  • Capecitabine / administration & dosage
  • Capecitabine / adverse effects
  • Capecitabine / therapeutic use
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil* / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil* / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Leucovorin / adverse effects
  • Leucovorin / therapeutic use
  • Maintenance Chemotherapy / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phthalazines* / administration & dosage
  • Phthalazines* / adverse effects
  • Phthalazines* / therapeutic use
  • Piperazines* / administration & dosage
  • Piperazines* / adverse effects
  • Piperazines* / therapeutic use
  • Progression-Free Survival

Substances

  • olaparib
  • Bevacizumab
  • Phthalazines
  • Piperazines
  • Fluorouracil
  • Capecitabine
  • Leucovorin

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04456699