SX-682 + Nivolumab for Colorectal Cancer

Overseen By Benny Johnson

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Immunosuppressants, Corticosteroids, others

Disqualifiers: Brain metastases, Bulky liver metastases, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores new ways to treat colorectal cancer that has spread or cannot be surgically removed. Researchers are testing a drug called SX-682, which might stop tumor growth on its own and in combination with another drug, nivolumab (Opdivo), which could help the immune system fight the cancer. The trial seeks participants with colorectal cancer who have specific genetic traits (RAS mutations and microsatellite stability) and have already tried at least two other treatment regimens without success. As a Phase 1 trial, this research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to receive this potentially groundbreaking therapy.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot take investigational drugs, immunosuppressive medications, or certain other treatments close to the start of the trial. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that SX-682 was tested in 51 patients. The study found that most participants tolerated the treatment well, with side effects typically mild to moderate. However, some experienced more serious side effects, so careful monitoring remains important.

Nivolumab has already received approval for treating certain other conditions. It can cause serious side effects in a small number of people, such as diarrhea and pneumonia, but most experience mild to moderate side effects.

The two treatments function differently. SX-682 targets enzymes that aid cancer cell growth, while nivolumab enhances the immune system's ability to fight cancer. Initial findings suggest that using these treatments together could be safe, but close observation is always crucial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Most treatments for colorectal cancer focus on traditional chemotherapy or targeting specific cancer cell proteins. However, SX-682 combined with Nivolumab offers a fresh approach by utilizing the body's immune system. Nivolumab is an immunotherapy that blocks a protein called PD-1, helping the immune cells attack cancer more effectively. Meanwhile, SX-682 is an oral drug designed to inhibit a different target, the CXCR1/2 receptors, which are involved in the recruitment of certain immune cells that may promote tumor growth. This dual mechanism not only aims to directly halt cancer progression but also enhances the body's natural defense against the tumor, making researchers hopeful for better outcomes.

What evidence suggests that SX-682 and nivolumab could be effective for colorectal cancer?

Studies have shown that SX-682, one of the treatments in this trial, can stop tumor growth by blocking enzymes that aid cancer cell growth. Tested in solid tumor models, it has shown potential to slow cancer spread and boost the immune system. Nivolumab, another treatment in this trial, is an immunotherapy that has provided lasting benefits in patients with certain types of colorectal cancer by helping the immune system target and attack cancer cells. While researchers continue to study SX-682, combining it with nivolumab in this trial aims to strengthen the immune response and address resistant cancer types. Together, these treatments offer a promising approach for difficult-to-treat colorectal cancers. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Alisha Bent, MD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with RAS-mutated, MSS colorectal cancer that's spread or can't be surgically removed. They must have tried at least two prior treatments and have a life expectancy of at least 12 weeks. Participants need measurable disease, adequate organ function, and no serious medical conditions or active infections like tuberculosis or hepatitis.

Inclusion Criteria

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =< 2.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) for subject with no liver metastases = < 5 X ULN for subjects with liver metastases (should be obtained within 14 days prior to first dose)

My blood clotting test results are normal or controlled by medication.

Subjects must be willing and able to comply with scheduled visits, treatment schedule, laboratory tests, pharmacokinetic collections, and other requirements of the study

Exclusion Criteria

Women must not be breastfeeding

I haven't taken experimental drugs or high-dose immune-suppressing meds in the last 28 days.

Any positive test for hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus indicating acute or chronic infection (hepatitis B virus [HBV] surface antigen positive and HBV core antibody positive with reflex to positive HBV DNA or HBV core antibody positive alone with reflex to positive HBV DNA or positive hepatitis C virus [HCV] antibody with reflex to positive HCV RNA)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Monotherapy Stage

Patients receive SX-682 orally twice daily on days 1-21 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

3 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Combination Stage

Patients receive SX-682 orally twice daily on days 1-56 and nivolumab intravenously on days 1 and 29. Treatment repeats every 56 days for up to 12 cycles

Up to 24 months

2 visits (in-person) every 56 days

Follow-up

Patients with no tumor response are followed up every 3 weeks for 90 days, and patients with tumor response every 3 months for up to 6 months

Up to 6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Nivolumab
• SX-682

Trial Overview The STOPTRAFFIC-1 trial is testing the safety and optimal dose of SX-682 alone and combined with nivolumab in advanced colorectal cancer patients. SX-682 blocks enzymes needed for tumor growth while nivolumab boosts the immune system to fight cancer cells.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Treatment (SX-682, nivolumab) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

MONOTHERAPY STAGE: Patients receive SX-682 orally PO BID on days 1-21 in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. COMBINATION STAGE: Patients receive SX-682 PO BID on days 1-56 and nivolumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 29. Treatment repeat every 56 days weeks for up to 12 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Nivolumab is already approved in United States, European Union, Canada, Switzerland for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Opdivo for:

• Advanced or metastatic gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma
• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Hepatocellular carcinoma
• Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Approved in European Union as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Approved in Canada as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Approved in Switzerland as Opdivo for:

• Melanoma
• Non-small cell lung cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• Hodgkin lymphoma
• Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
• Urothelial carcinoma
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Gastroesophageal junction cancer
• Esophageal adenocarcinoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Industry Sponsor

Trials

2,731

Recruited

4,127,000+

Headquarters

New York City, USA

Known For

Oncology & Cardiovascular

Top Products

Eliquis, Opdivo, Revlimid, Orencia

Christopher Boerner

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

PhD in Business Administration from the Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley; BA in Economics and History from Washington University in St. Louis

Deepak L. Bhatt

Bristol-Myers Squibb

Chief Medical Officer since 2024

MD from Yale University; MSc in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Pennsylvania

Syntrix Biosystems, Inc.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

14

Recruited

810+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Nivolumab (Opdivo) significantly improves overall survival and response rates in previously-treated patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to docetaxel, as shown in the CheckMate 057 trial.

Nivolumab has a manageable adverse event profile and is better tolerated than docetaxel, making it a valuable treatment option for patients who have progressed after chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab: A Review in Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Keating, GM.[2018]

In a phase II study involving 45 patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, the combination of nivolumab and low-dose ipilimumab showed a high objective response rate of 69% and a disease control rate of 84%, indicating strong efficacy as a first-line treatment.

The treatment was well tolerated, with only 22% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events, and 74% of responders maintained their response at the time of data cutoff, suggesting durability of the treatment effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

First-Line Nivolumab Plus Low-Dose Ipilimumab for Microsatellite Instability-High/Mismatch Repair-Deficient Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The Phase II CheckMate 142 Study. Lenz, HJ., Van Cutsem, E., Luisa Limon, M., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 14 randomized controlled trials found that combining nivolumab (NIVO) with ipilimumab (IPI) significantly increases the risk of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) compared to NIVO alone, with an overall risk ratio of 1.11 for any grade TRAEs and 1.95 for severe (grade 3 or 4) TRAEs.

Specific adverse events were notably higher with the combination therapy, including colitis (RR = 4.52), pneumonitis (RR = 3.06), and diarrhea (RR = 1.68), indicating that while the combination may be effective, it comes with increased safety concerns.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adverse Events Induced by Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab vs. Nivolumab Monotherapy among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Kamat, S., Patel, J., Brown, BR., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, significantly improves overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced stage squamous cell non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to docetaxel, as shown in the CHECKMATE 017 study.

The safety and tolerability of nivolumab are favorable, and interestingly, the expression of the PD-L1 ligand does not predict treatment outcomes, suggesting that other factors may influence the effectiveness of this therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab in the treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer: a review of the evidence. Lim, JS., Soo, RA.[2018]

Nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to docetaxel in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the CheckMate 017 trial.

Nivolumab was better tolerated than docetaxel, with manageable adverse effects, making it a promising treatment option for patients who have already undergone chemotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab: a review in advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Keating, GM.[2022]

Nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, was administered to a 63-year-old female patient with metastatic melanoma after renal transplantation, highlighting the potential for anti-tumor activity in high-risk patients, despite the challenges of concurrent immunosuppression.

The patient experienced acute renal allograft rejection and renal failure shortly after starting nivolumab, indicating significant risks associated with this treatment in transplant recipients, but she later showed a positive clinical response after re-challenging with nivolumab while on hemodialysis.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antitumor activity of nivolumab on hemodialysis after renal allograft rejection. Ong, M., Ibrahim, AM., Bourassa-Blanchette, S., et al.[2023]

Nivolumab, an immunotherapy drug, can cause immune-mediated side effects like colitis, which may occur even after treatment has stopped.

Using higher doses of methylprednisolone led to a quicker resolution of symptoms in patients compared to previous cases, potentially reducing the need for hospitalization.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab and immune-mediated colitis. Walker, H., Brennan, P., Groome, M., et al.[2023]

Nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, is approved for treating various cancers, including metastatic colorectal cancer with specific genetic markers (deficient mismatch repair or microsatellite-instability high).

The FDA granted accelerated approval for nivolumab in July 2017 for patients with this type of colorectal cancer who have not responded to standard chemotherapy, highlighting its potential efficacy in a challenging patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab in the treatment of microsatellite instability high metastatic colorectal cancer. Mehrvarz Sarshekeh, A., Overman, MJ., Kopetz, S.[2022]

Nivolumab, a PD-1 inhibitor, has demonstrated significant safety and efficacy in treating various advanced solid tumors, including melanoma and lung cancer, based on multiple high-level studies.

Future research should aim to identify predictive biomarkers for treatment response and explore the potential of combining nivolumab with other therapies, as well as determining the best treatment strategies and duration.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An update on the pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, safety and clinical efficacy of nivolumab in the treatment of solid cancers. Wong, AC., Ma, B.[2018]

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab are FDA-approved monoclonal antibodies that target PD-1, helping to enhance T cell activity against cancer by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, which allows cancer cells to escape immune detection.

Both drugs have shown efficacy across multiple cancer types, including melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, and are considered interchangeable options for treating these conditions, which may help manage the rising costs of cancer therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab and pembrolizumab: Monoclonal antibodies against programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) that are interchangeable. Prasad, V., Kaestner, V.[2022]

In a study of 274 elderly patients with advanced melanoma, the risk of developing colitis was similar for those treated with anti-CTLA4 (ipilimumab) and anti-PD1 (nivolumab or pembrolizumab) therapies.

However, when considering patients across all stages of melanoma, anti-PD1 treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of colitis compared to anti-CTLA4, suggesting a safer profile for anti-PD1 in this broader patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Association of immune-checkpoint inhibitors and the risk of immune-related colitis among elderly patients with advanced melanoma: real-world evidence from the SEER-Medicare database. Almutairi, AR., Slack, M., Erstad, BL., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab can cause immune-mediated colitis that resembles ulcerative colitis, as seen in a study of 19 patients, including 6 new cases and 13 previously reported cases, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis.

Most patients responded well to corticosteroid treatment, but about 25% required additional therapy with infliximab, indicating that while steroids are effective, some cases may need more intensive intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab-induced immune-mediated colitis: an ulcerative colitis look-alike-report of new cases and review of the literature. Cañete, F., Mañosa, M., Lobatón, T., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. opdivohcp.com opdivohcp.com/efficacy/crc

Efficacy Data for Colorectal Cancer (CRC) - Opdivo The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients were diarrhea, pneumonia, pneumonitis, pulmonary embolism, urinary tract infection, and ...

2. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.4_suppl.LBA143

First results of nivolumab (NIVO) plus ipilimumab (IPI) vs ... Objective response rate (ORR) by BICR was significantly higher with NIVO + IPI vs NIVO (71% vs 58%; P = 0.0011; Table); best overall response of ...

3. news.bms.com news.bms.com/news/details/2025/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Presents-Results-from-CheckMate--8HW-Analysis-Evaluating-Opdivo-nivolumab-plus-Yervoy-ipilimumab-Compared-to-Opdivo-Monotherapy/default.aspx

8HW Analysis Evaluating Opdivo® (nivolumab) plus ... Patients experienced a 38% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death when treated with Opdivo plus Yervoy versus Opdivo monotherapy across all ...

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63960-8

Inflammation and mutational burden differentially ... Nivolumab alone and in combination with ipilimumab demonstrated durable clinical benefit in patients with previously treated microsatellite ...

5. cancer.gov cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2025/fda-nivolumab-ipilimumab-dmmr-colorectal-cancer

Immunotherapy Combo Approved for dMMR Colorectal ... Patients treated with the combination had more serious side effects than those who took nivolumab alone (22% versus 14%) and stopped treatment ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6853093/

Safety of Nivolumab plus Low‐Dose Ipilimumab in Previously ... The benefit‐risk profile of nivolumab plus low‐dose ipilimumab provides a promising treatment option for patients with previously treated MSI‐H/dMMR mCRC.

7. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2025.43.16_suppl.e15560

Efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating ... Efficacy and safety of nivolumab and ipilimumab in treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

8. opdivo.com opdivo.com/clinical-trial-results

Clinical Trial Results It is not known if OPDIVO is safe and effective in children younger than 12 years of age with melanoma or MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer. It is not ...

9. news.bms.com news.bms.com/news/details/2025/U-S--Food-and-Drug-Administration-Approves-Opdivo-nivolumab-plus-Yervoy-ipilimumab-as-a-Treatment-for-Patients-with-Previously-Untreated-Microsatellite-Instability-High-or-Mismatch-Repair-Deficient-Unresectable-or-Metastatic-Colorectal-Cancer1/default.aspx

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Opdivo ... In the CheckMate-8HW trial, Opdivo plus Yervoy demonstrated a 38% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death vs. Opdivo monotherapy ...