Funding ended

This phase II trial studies how well capecitabine and celecoxib with or without radiation therapy works in treating patients with colorectal cancer that is newly diagnosed or has been previously treated with fluorouracil, and has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as capecitabine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Celecoxib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Giving capecitabine and celecoxib together with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine the rate of complete response 2 years following the initiation of first line 5-FU (fluorouracil) based chemotherapy in patients with initially unresected metastatic colorectal cancer who are then treated on the activating cancer stem cells (CSCs) from dormancy and priming them for subsequent targeting (ADAPT) protocol.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine overall survival, relapse free survival (if complete response [CR]) based on intent to treat (ITT) analysis.

II. To determine quality of life while on ADAPT therapy.

III. To determine the effects of v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-ras) mutation status, resection and radiation on response to ADAPT therapy.

OUTLINE:

Patients proceed to surgery, radiation therapy with ADAPT therapy followed by maintenance ADAPT therapy, or ADAPT therapy. Eligible patients undergo surgical resection at baseline or upon achievement of resectable disease after radiation therapy.

RADIATION + ADAPT: Patients undergo radiation therapy 5 days per week and receive capecitabine orally (PO) twice daily (BID) and celecoxib PO BID 5 days per week during radiation.

ADAPT: Patients receive capecitabine PO BID on days 1-14 and celecoxib PO BID on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 21 days for up to 3 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 1 year, every 4 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Histologically confirmed colorectal cancer
• Evaluable or measurable radiographic evidence of colorectal cancer
• Patients with unresected metastases from colorectal cancer; patients may be either untreated with chemotherapy or currently receiving first-line 5-FU based chemotherapy (folinic acid-fluorouracil-irinotecan hydrochloride [FOLFIRI], capecitabine-irinotecan hydrochloride [CAPIRI], fluorouracil-leucovorin calcium-oxaliplatin [FOLFOX], or capecitabine-oxaliplatin [CAPOX] with or without bevacizumab) within 10 months of beginning ADAPT therapy with at least stable disease radiographically; patients who received prior adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU, capecitabine, or FOLFOX are eligible if adjuvant therapy was completed greater than 6 months ago
• History of histological confirmation for recurrent disease, or if recurrent disease is not readily accessible to biopsy, must have two consecutive carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) or cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 increases, or positron emission tomography (PET) avidity
• Men and women from all ethnic and racial groups
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2
• Total bilirubin =< 1.5 x the institutional upper-normal limit (IUNL)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) and/or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 2.5 x IUNL
• Alkaline phosphatase =< 2.5 x IUNL
• Leukocytes >= 3,000/uL
• Absolute neutrophil count >= 1,000/uL
• Platelets >= 100,000/uL
• Women of childbearing potential and all men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control) prior to beginning ADAPT therapy and for the duration of study participation
• Negative urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential
• Must have the ability to understand and the willingness to provide a written informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of allergies to sulfonamide, aspirin, any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), 5-FU or celecoxib
• Prior 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy less than 6 months prior to beginning ADAPT therapy and any residual neuropathy > grade 2
• Any regular use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors as defined by 2-3 times per week
• Use of aspirin is NOT an exclusion criterion as long as the daily dose does not exceed 325 mg daily; initiation of ADAPT therapy requires patient to discontinue aspirin for 18 months
• Pregnant or lactating women
• History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorders, including dementia or seizures that would impede consent, treatment, or follow up
• Any serious illness or medical condition that could affect participation on trial
• Any uncontrolled congestive heart failure New York Heart Association class III or IV
• Any uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmia, or active angina pectoris
• Any history of major myocardial infarction, stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA); minor acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and patients who have had cardiac bypass free of symptoms for at least 2 years may be eligible at the discretion of the study chair
• Serious uncontrolled active infection
• Patients with creatinine clearance: < 50 mL/min are excluded from this protocol; capecitabine is contraindicated in severe renal impairment (clearance < 40 mL/min)
• Inability to swallow oral medications or any medical conditions that may affect intestinal absorption of the study agent or inability to comply with oral medication
• History of active peptic ulcer disease or major upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed < 12 months; history of GI bleeding from the colorectal cancer primary is not an exclusion criterion
• Use of warfarin is not allowed; patient is recommended to switch to low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) before participating in this study
• Patients with any history of brain or bone metastasis or who have developed progressive disease on first line 5-FU based therapy
• Current use of systemic steroid medication
• Patients with an obstructive synchronous colorectal tumor requiring up-front surgery or chemoradiation
• Patients with partial or complete bowel obstruction due to abdominal carcinomatosis