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A Study of Botensilimab and Balstilimab for Colorectal Cancer With ctDNA+ After Surgery and Chemotherapy

  • PhasePhase 2
  • StatusRecruiting
  • Planned enrollment284 people
  • Recruiting US sites7
  • SponsorMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • RegistryNCT07227636

Recruitment re-checked on ClinicalTrials.gov Oct 30, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

A Study of Botensilimab and Balstilimab for Colorectal Cancer With ctDNA+ After Surgery and Chemotherapy: a one-minute explainerNCT072276361 min

Eligibility

Who can join

The film gives the main points. The full list below is copied from the registry; the study team makes the final decision.

  • Age18 Years to no maximum
  • SexAll
  • Healthy volunteersNo

You may be able to join if

  • Subject or legally authorized representative, is willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • Histologically- or cytologically- confirmed colorectal cancer.
  • ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • Consent for use of archival tissue and blood draws for research purposes.
  • Performance status of ECOG 0 or 1.
  • Known non-MSI-H/pMMR by IHC, PCR or NGS testing. MSKCC confirmation of non-MSI-H/pMMR status is not mandatory prior to enrollment and treatment on the study. For patients with outside testing, if sufficient tissue is available testing may be repeated at MSKCC and will not impact initial eligibility.
  • Consent to undergo MSK IMPACT or NGS, if not previously done
  • Disease specific criteria:
  • Cohorts 1a and 2a: Undergone a complete surgical resection (R0) for stage III colon or rectal cancer, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX or CAPEOX. Post-operative chemotherapy not required if received previous oxaliplatin-based therapy. Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for rectal cancer with complete clinical and radiographic response is allowed.
  • Cohorts 1b and 2b: Undergone a complete surgical resection (R0) for liver metastasis (ablation or stereotactic body radiation therapy [SBRT], but not Y-90, is permitted) and completed standard peri-operative chemotherapy. Peri-operative chemotherapy not required if received previous oxaliplatin-based therapy. Prior floxuridine via Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump is permitted. Completed definitive treatment for the primary tumor including (R0) resection, or Total Neoadjuvant Therapy for rectal cancer with complete clinical and radiographic response.
  • Positive ctDNA following completion of appropriate standard of care therapy.
  • Patients must sign informed consent within 6 weeks of positive ctDNA result. The 6 weeks is considered from the date that the ctDNA is resulted, and not the date it is drawn.
  • Adequate organ function, defined as:
  • Absolute Neutrophil Count ≥ 1,500/mm3.
  • Platelet count ≥ 75,000/mm3.
  • Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL
  • Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥60 mL/min.
  • AST and ALT ≤ 2.5 × ULN
  • Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN or Direct bilirubin ≤ ULN
  • Subjects of childbearing potential (or with partners of childbearing potential) must use effective contraception for the course of the study starting with the screening visit through at least 5 months after the last dose of study treatment. Appropriate methods of birth control include abstinence, oral contraceptives, implantable hormonal contraceptives, or double barrier method (diaphragm plus condom).

You cannot join if

  • Presence of metastatic or recurrent disease.
  • Known DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) or DNA polymerase delta (POLD) activating mutation.
  • R1 (microscopic residual tumor) or R2 resection (macroscopic residual tumor at resection margin).
  • Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  • Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
  • Patients who have received acute, low dose, systemic immunosuppressant medications (e.g., dexamethasone containing antiemetic regimen or steroids as CT scan contrast premedication) may be enrolled.
  • The use of inhaled corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids (e.g., fludrocortisone) for patients with orthostatic hypotension or adrenocortical insufficiency is allowed.
  • Hypersensitivity to botensilimab or balstilimab or any of its excipients.
  • Chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent
  • a. Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
  • History of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis.
  • Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • Current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 90 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  • Prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-CTLA-4 agent.
  • Active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment within 2 years of the start of study treatment (i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents or immunosuppressive drugs). The following are exceptions:
  • Subjects with vitiligo or alopecia
  • Subjects with hypothyroidism (e.g., following Hashimoto syndrome) stable on hormone replacement or psoriasis not requiring systemic treatment
  • Known active TB (Bacillus tuberculosis).
  • Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients on stable highly active antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral load and normal CD4 counts for at least 6 months prior to study entry are eligible. Serological testing for HIV at screening is not required
  • Known to be positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen, or any other positive test for HBV indicating acute or chronic infection. Patients who are receiving or who have received anti-HBV therapy and have undetectable HBV DNA prior to study entry are eligible. Serological testing for HBV at screening is not required.
  • Known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by positive serology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Patients on or who have received antiretroviral therapy are eligible provided they are virus-free by PCR for at least 6 months prior to study entry. Serological testing for HCV at screening is not required.
  • Received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy

The treatment

How it is intended to work

This is how the treatment is meant to work. Whether it helps, and how safe it is, is what this trial is testing.

botensilimab. An Fc-engineered recombinant human immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 monoclonal antibody directed against the human T-cell receptor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), with immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody botensilimab binds to CTLA-4 expressed on T cells and inhibits the CTLA-4-mediated downregulation of T-cell activation. This leads to a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated immune response against cancer cells. CTLA-4, an inhibitory receptor and member of the immunoglobulin superfamily, plays a key role in the downregulation of the immune system. The engineered Fc domain increases the stability and half-life of the antibody. NCI Drug Dictionary

balstilimab. A monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1, PCD-1; PDCD1) protein, with potential immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, balstilimab binds to PD-1, and thereby blocks its binding to the PD-1 ligand programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and prevents the activation of its downstream signaling pathways. This may restore immune function through the activation of cytotoxic T cells. PD-1, a transmembrane protein in the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on activated T cells, negatively regulates T-cell activation and effector function when activated by its ligand; it plays an important role in tumor evasion from host immunity. NCI Drug Dictionary

Treatments listed in the registry

  • Botensilimab (Drug): All patients will receive botensilimab IV on day 1 of the 42 day cycle for 4 doses
  • Balstilimab (Drug): All patients will receive balstilimab IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cyclePatient then continues balstilimab alone for an additional two cycles IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle.
  • Placebo (Other): Placebo

The study

Treatment groups

Randomized · Parallel · masking: Double

Cohort 1a: Stage III MSS Colorectal Cancer (Botensilimab and Balstilimab) (Experimental)

All patients will receive botensilimab IV on day 1 of the 42 day cycle for 4 doses, balstilimab IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle. Patient then continues balstilimab alone for an additional two cycles IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle.

Cohort 1b: MSS CRLM (Botensilimab and Balstilimab) (Experimental)

All patients will receive botensilimab IV on day 1 of the 42 day cycle for 4 doses, balstilimab IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle. Patient then continues balstilimab alone for an additional two cycles IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle.

Cohort 2a: Stage 3 MSS Colorectal Cancer (Botensilimab and Balstilimab vs. Placebo) Randomized (Experimental)

All patients will receive botensilimab IV on day 1 of the 42 day cycle for 4 doses, balstilimab IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle. Patient then continues balstilimab alone for an additional two cycles IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle OR Placebo

Cohort 2b: MSS CRLM (Botensilimab and Balstilimab vs. Placebo) Randomized (Experimental)

All patients will receive botensilimab IV on day 1 of the 42 day cycle for 4 doses, balstilimab IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle. Patient then continues balstilimab alone for an additional two cycles IV on days 1, 15, and 29 of the 42 day cycle OR Placebo

What it involves

Procedures

As the registry describes them. Requirements to join, such as a tissue sample, are in the eligibility list above even when on-study procedures are optional. Ask the study team which steps apply to you.

  • surgery: Part of the study plan

Goals

What the study measures

Main goals

  • Rate of ctDNA clearance (Cohort 1a) (6 months)
  • Rate of ctDNA clearance (Cohort 1b) (6 months)
  • Recurrence-free survival (RFS) (Cohort 2a) (1 year)
  • Recurrence-free survival (RFS) (Cohort 2b) (1 year)

Planned enrollment: 284 (estimated).

Where

Recruiting US sites

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge (Limited Protocol Activities), Basking Ridge, New Jersey
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth (Limited Protocol Activities), Middletown, New Jersey
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen (Limited Protocol Activities), Montvale, New Jersey
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack (Limited Protocol Activities), Commack, New York
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester (All Protocol Activities), Harrison, New York
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (All Protocol Activities), New York, New York
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau (Limited Protocol Activities), Rockville Centre, New York

Site status as of Oct 30, 2026. Check the live record before contacting a site.

Sources

Where this comes from

Registry record reviewed as fetched Oct 30, 2026, last updated by the sponsor Sep 21, 2026. Public record; not medical advice.

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