FIRE-4 (AIO KRK-0114): Efficacy of third-line rechallenge with cetuximab versus investigator’s choice in relation to the interval between initial and third-line anti-EGFR therapy.

3575 Background: The randomized FIRE-4 study evaluated the effect of cetuximab rechallenge versus investigator’s choice in the 3 rd -line treatment of patients (pts) with RAS-wildtype (RAS-wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The present analysis focuses on the time between the end of initial anti-EGFR-based treatment and start of 3 rd -line therapy (TIS-3) as a potential predictor of response. Methods: In FIRE-4, all pts received induction therapy with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. After 1 st PD, an anti-EGFR-free “window therapy” was recommended. At diagnosis of 2 nd PD, pts who had responded to induction therapy were re-evaluated for RAS status and, after exclusion of RAS mutations, were offered randomization to either rechallenge with cetuximab plus chemotherapy or investigator’s choice. Overall survival in 3 rd -line (OS-3) was evaluated as a primary endpoint. Results: Of the 87 pts entering 3 rd -line treatment in FIRE-4, 45 received (FOLF)IRI plus cetuximab (rechallenge arm), and 42 received investigator’s choice (standard arm). Numerically superior outcome parameters regarding ORR-3 (OR 2.70), PFS-3 (HR 0.87) and OS-3 (HR 0.86) were observed in the rechallenge arm, without, however, reaching the level of statistical significance. To evaluate the relevance of TIS-3, we focused on the median (13.8 months) and the first quartile (9.0 months). Based on these cut-off values, treatment effects were evaluated in pts with longer and shorter TIS-3 intervals (see Table). Conclusions: Longer TIS-3 intervals were associated with longer survival times in 3 rd -line treatment. This observation was particularly true for pts receiving cetuximab rechallenge, but also for those receiving investigator’s choice. Clinical trial information: NCT02934529 . Treatment arm N Interval PFS (mo) HR OS (mo) HR FOLF(IRI) + Cetuximab 21 > 13.8 mo 7.4 0.475P=0.019 20.0 0.639P=0.187 24 < 13.8 mo 4.1 12.6 34 > 9.0 mo 5.9 0.680P=0.274 19.6 0.601P=0.173 11 < 9.0 mo 4.0 10.8 Investigator’s choice 23 > 13.8 mo 5.6 0.772P=0.415 16.2 0.516P=0.055 19 < 13.8 mo 4.4 12.2 32 > 9.0 mo 5.5 0.690P=0.313 16.9 0.458P=0.042 10 < 9.0 mo 4.5 7.8

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Published
2026-05-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.3575
Primary Topic
Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

FIRE-4 (AIO KRK-0114): Efficacy of third-line rechallenge with cetuximab versus investigator’s choice in relation to the interval between initial and third-line anti-EGFR therapy.

Martin Fuchs, Matthias Sandmann, V Heinemann, Thomas Kubin et al.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
article

FIRE-4 (AIO KRK-0114): Efficacy of third-line rechallenge with cetuximab versus investigator’s choice in relation to the interval between initial and third-line anti-EGFR therapy.

Martin Fuchs, Matthias Sandmann, V Heinemann, Thomas Kubin, Andreas Dickhut, Dominik Paul Modest, Swantje Held, Florian Kaiser, Stefan Angermeier, K. Heinrich, Ludwig Fischer von Weikersthal, Christof Burkart, Leopold Öhler, Ralf Hofheinz, Sebastian Stintzing, Thomas Decker, Dora Niedersuess-Beke, Tom Ganten, Lena Weiss, Gerald W. Prager
article en

Abstract

3575 Background: The randomized FIRE-4 study evaluated the effect of cetuximab rechallenge versus investigator’s choice in the 3 rd -line treatment of patients (pts) with RAS-wildtype (RAS-wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The present analysis focuses on the time between the end of initial anti-EGFR-based treatment and start of 3 rd -line therapy (TIS-3) as a potential predictor of response. Methods: In FIRE-4, all pts received induction therapy with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. After 1 st PD, an anti-EGFR-free “window therapy” was recommended. At diagnosis of 2 nd PD, pts who had responded to induction therapy were re-evaluated for RAS status and, after exclusion of RAS mutations, were offered randomization to either rechallenge with cetuximab plus chemotherapy or investigator’s choice. Overall survival in 3 rd -line (OS-3) was evaluated as a primary endpoint. Results: Of the 87 pts entering 3 rd -line treatment in FIRE-4, 45 received (FOLF)IRI plus cetuximab (rechallenge arm), and 42 received investigator’s choice (standard arm). Numerically superior outcome parameters regarding ORR-3 (OR 2.70), PFS-3 (HR 0.87) and OS-3 (HR 0.86) were observed in the rechallenge arm, without, however, reaching the level of statistical significance. To evaluate the relevance of TIS-3, we focused on the median (13.8 months) and the first quartile (9.0 months). Based on these cut-off values, treatment effects were evaluated in pts with longer and shorter TIS-3 intervals (see Table). Conclusions: Longer TIS-3 intervals were associated with longer survival times in 3 rd -line treatment. This observation was particularly true for pts receiving cetuximab rechallenge, but also for those receiving investigator’s choice. Clinical trial information: NCT02934529 . Treatment arm N Interval PFS (mo) HR OS (mo) HR FOLF(IRI) + Cetuximab 21 > 13.8 mo 7.4 0.475P=0.019 20.0 0.639P=0.187 24 < 13.8 mo 4.1 12.6 34 > 9.0 mo 5.9 0.680P=0.274 19.6 0.601P=0.173 11 < 9.0 mo 4.0 10.8 Investigator’s choice 23 > 13.8 mo 5.6 0.772P=0.415 16.2 0.516P=0.055 19 < 13.8 mo 4.4 12.2 32 > 9.0 mo 5.5 0.690P=0.313 16.9 0.458P=0.042 10 < 9.0 mo 4.5 7.8

Journal of Clinical OncologyVol. 44(16_suppl)
University of Applied Sciences Landshut (DE), Heidelberg University (DE), University Hospital Heidelberg (DE), LMU Klinikum (DE), München Klinik Bogenhausen (DE), Barmherzige Schwestern Krankenhaus Wien (AT), Kreisklinik Trostberg (DE), Wilhelminen Hospital (AT), Ravensburg University of Cooperative Education (DE), Tirol Kliniken (AT), Agaplesion Bethesda Krankenhaus (DE), AIO Studien gGmbH (DE), St. Josef Krankenhaus (DE), Schwarzwald-Baar Klinikum (DE), Praxis für Hämatologie und Onkologie (DE), Klinikum Ludwigsburg (DE), Klinikum Fulda (DE), Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 10%
Colorectal Cancer Treatments and Studies
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.