Toripalimab Plus Celecoxib for dMMR/MSI-H Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Toripalimab Plus Celecoxib With Response-adapted Non-operative Management for Mismatch Repair-deficient or Microsatellite Instability-high Locally Advanced Colorectal Cancer (PICC-3): a Multicenter, Single-arm, Phase 2 Trial

The PICC-3 study is a multicentre, single-arm, phase II trial evaluating toripalimab plus celecoxib in patients with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) locally advanced colorectal cancer. The trial uses a response-adapted treatment strategy, whereby patients with clinical complete response (cCR) after therapy may enter a non-operative management pathway, while patients without cCR proceed to surgery. Response assessment is based on imaging, endoscopy, biopsy evaluation, and ctDNA analysis.

Patients with dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced colorectal cancer have shown high sensitivity to neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor. Several phase II studies have demonstrated high rates of clinical complete response (cCR) and pathological complete response (pCR), supporting the feasibility and safety of immunotherapy in localized dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer.

Radical surgery for locally advanced colorectal cancer is associated with substantial perioperative morbidity and long-term functional consequences. In particular, total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer may result in bowel, urinary, and sexual dysfunction, and some patients may require temporary or permanent stoma formation. Therefore, organ preservation and non-operative management have become important treatment goals for selected patients with colorectal cancer who achieve complete clinical response after neoadjuvant therapy.

Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility and safety of non-operative management after immune checkpoint inhibitor in patients with dMMR/MSI-H rectal cancer, while emerging evidence suggests that this strategy may also be feasible in selected patients with colon cancer following immunotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed informed consent and willingness/compliance with study procedures.
2. Age ≥18 years.
3. Histologically confirmed colorectal adenocarcinoma.
4. ECOG performance status 0-1.
5. Locally advanced primary tumor (T3/T4 and/or N+) confirmed by CT/MRI (pelvic MRI for rectal cancer).
6. dMMR (IHC) or MSI-H (PCR) status.
7. No prior anti-cancer therapy for colonrectal cancer (surgery/chemotherapy/targeted therapy/radiation).
8. Adequate organ function
9. For women of childbearing potential: negative pregnancy test and contraception use during and for 3 months post-treatment. Male participants with fertile partners must use contraception.
10. Willingness to adhere to study requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presence of distant metastases (M1) confirmed by CT/MRI or PET-CT (at least covering the chest, abdomen, and pelvis).
2. Complete intestinal obstruction, active bleeding, or perforation requiring emergency surgery.
3. Inability to achieve complete resection of the primary colorectal tumor.
4. History or concurrent active malignancy (except malignancies cured ≥5 years ago or adequately treated carcinoma in situ).
5. Prior treatment with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies, anti-CTLA-4 antibodies, or other drugs/antibodies targeting T-cell co-stimulation or checkpoint pathways.
6. Major surgery (e.g., laparotomy, thoracotomy, organ resection via laparoscopy) or severe trauma within 4 weeks before enrollment (surgical incision must be fully healed).
7. Thromboembolic events (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis) within 12 months before enrollment.
8. Active coronary artery disease, severe/unstable angina, or newly diagnosed angina/myocardial infarction within 12 months before enrollment.
9. New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or higher congestive heart failure (see Appendix 3).
10. HIV infection, AIDS, or untreated active hepatitis (HBV-DNA ≥500 IU/mL; HCV-RNA above detection limit).
11. Active inflammatory bowel disease or other colorectal disorders causing chronic diarrhea.
12. Active, known, or suspected autoimmune disease (exceptions: stable conditions like type 1 diabetes, hypothyroidism on hormone replacement, or skin disorders without systemic treatment, e.g., vitiligo, psoriasis, alopecia).
13. Interstitial lung disease, non-infectious pneumonitis, or uncontrolled systemic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis, acute pneumonia).
14. Residual toxicity ≥Grade 2 (per CTCAE v5.0) from prior therapies (except anemia, alopecia, skin pigmentation).
15. Known or suspected hypersensitivity to any study-related drugs.
16. Pregnancy or lactation.
17. Women of childbearing potential (last menstruation <2 years ago) or fertile men unwilling to use effective non-hormonal contraception.
18. Any unstable medical condition compromising safety or protocol compliance.