The addition of RAD001, an mTOR inhibitor, to irinotecan and anti-EGFR antibody cetuximab may increase efficacy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who progressed on prior chemotherapy. This approach is biologically directed to overall target the cancer cell at multiple levels, and potentially preventing chemotherapy and EGFR-therapy resistance.

OUTLINE: This is a multi-center study.

PHASE I:

• UGT1A1 *28 7/7 genotype IS NOT present
• Cetuximab 250 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8, and 15
• Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8
• RAD001 PO QD (dose determined at the time of registration; subjects will remain at this dose level until treatment discontinuation)

PHASE II:

• Randomization based on UGT1A1 *28 7/7 Genotype or Prior Irinotecan Exposure

ARM A:

• Cetuximab 250 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8, and 15
• Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8

AT TIME OF PROGRESSIVE DISEASE, ARM A TREATMENT WILL CROSSOVER:

• Cetuximab 250 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8, and 15
• Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8
• RAD001 PO QD (maximum tolerated dose)

ARM B:

• Cetuximab 250 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8, and 15
• Irinotecan 125 mg/m2 IV days 1 and 8
• RAD001 PO QD (maximum tolerated dose)

AT TIME OF PROGRESSIVE DISEASE, ARM B TREATMENT WILL BE DISCONTINUED

ECOG performance status 0-2

Life Expectancy: Not specified

Hematopoietic:

• Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 mm3
• Platelets ≥ 100,000 mm3
• Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL
• White blood cell count (WBC) ≥ 2,000 mm3
• INR < 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) if not on anticoagulation (if on anticoagulation must have an in-range INR (usually between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of warfarin)
• PTT < 1.5 x ULN

Hepatic:

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST, SGOT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT, SGPT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
• Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL

Renal:

• Calculated creatinine clearance of ≥ 60 cc/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula

Cardiovascular:

• No uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication, transient ischemic attack (TIA), or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) within 6 months prior to being registered for protocol therapy
• No uncontrolled congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or unstable angina within 6 months prior to being registered for protocol therapy

Pulmonary:

• No severely impaired lung function as demonstrated by pulse O2 saturation ≤ 90% at rest on room air, or pulmonary function test FEV1 ≤ 2L
• No history of prior chronic lung infection such as tuberculosis, atypical tuberculosis, or histoplasmosis as evidenced by a chest CT or x-ray within 21 days prior to being registered for protocol therapy

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histological or cytological proof of colon or rectal adenocarcinoma
• Measurable site of disease according to RECIST that has not been previously irradiated
• Must have metastatic colorectal cancer which progressed after first line chemotherapy +/- bevacizumab
• Blood sample collected within 21 days prior to being registered for protocol therapy for UTG1A1 genotype analysis. (Patients with the UGT1A1 *28 7/7 genotype (homozygosity for the TA7 allele) will be excluded from the Phase I stage of the study. During the Phase II stage of the study, subjects will be allowed to participate but must begin treatment at dose level -1 of irinotecan.)
• A history of other malignancies (non-colorectal) is allowed, provided it has been curatively treated and demonstrates no evidence for recurrence of that cancer
• Prior radiation therapy allowed to < 25% of the bone marrow
• Age ≥ 18 years at the time of consent
• Written informed consent and HIPAA authorization for release of personal health information
• Females of childbearing potential and males must be willing to use an effective method of contraception
• Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 7 days of being registered for protocol therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• No more than one prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer, at least 28 days prior to being registered for protocol therapy
• No prior treatment with cetuximab
• No prior treatment with an mTOR inhibitor
• No known hypersensitivity to cetuximab, RAD001 (everolimus), other rapamycins (sirolimus, temsirolimus) or to its excipients
• No treatment with any investigational agent within 28 days prior to being registered for protocol therapy
• No symptomatic brain metastasis
• No uncontrolled diabetes as defined by a fasting serum glucose >1.5 x ULN
• No chronic treatment with systemic steroids or another immuno-suppressive agent
• No serious non-healing wound, ulcer, bone fracture, major surgical procedure, open biopsy or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to being registered for protocol therapy
• No liver disease such as cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis
• No active bleeding or a pathological condition that is associated with a high risk of bleeding
• No uncontrolled systemic disease including active infections or uncontrolled hypertension
• No known history of HIV seropositivity
• No impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of RAD001 (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome, or small bowel resection)
• No nonmalignant medical illnesses that are uncontrolled or whose control may be jeopardized by the treatment with protocol therapy
• No planned immunization with attenuated live viruses during the study period
• Females must not be breastfeeding