The ESMO 2026 Congress will feature new colorectal cancer data across metastatic, adjuvant, and locally advanced disease, including phase III treatment analyses, targeted therapy strategies, immunotherapy, and studies investigating treatment rechallenge and molecularly guided approaches. Several presentations will build on previously reported findings from CheckMate 8HW, UNION, and early-phase studies, while others will present results from randomized phase III trials or initial clinical investigations. This overview highlights 11 colorectal cancer presentations scheduled for October 24–25, 2026.
BRICKET: ctDNA-Guided Re-treatment With Encorafenib and Cetuximab in BRAF V600E-Mutated mCRC
Abstract: 787RO
Presenter: Marco Maria Germani (Pisa, Italy)
Trial Type: Single-arm Phase II
Session: Rapid Oral
BRICKET is a phase II proof-of-concept study conducted by GONO investigating circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)-guided re-treatment with encorafenib and cetuximab in patients with chemotherapy-refractory BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
According to the registered study design, eligible patients must have previously benefited from BRAF and EGFR blockade, with or without chemotherapy. Molecular selection requires detection of BRAF V600E in ctDNA without specified resistance-associated alterations, including KRAS, NRAS, and MAP2K1 mutations or MET amplification. The primary objective is to evaluate antitumor activity according to RECIST 1.1.
At ESMO 2026, BRICKET will present results examining this ctDNA-guided re-treatment strategy.
ECLYPse: Encorafenib and Cetuximab Beyond Progression With FOLFIRI
Abstract: 788RO
Presenter: Maria Alessandra Calegari (Rome, Italy)
Trial Type: Phase II
Session: Rapid Oral
ECLYPse (NCT06640166) is a multicenter, single-arm phase II trial evaluating the continuation of encorafenib and cetuximab beyond disease progression in combination with FOLFIRI in patients with BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC.
The study enrolls patients who experienced disease progression during second-line encorafenib and cetuximab after previously achieving a complete response, partial response, or stable disease lasting at least three months. The primary endpoint is the six-month progression-free survival (PFS) rate. The original protocol planned to enroll 25 patients and specified a six-month PFS rate of 30% as the alternative hypothesis.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present phase II results assessing this treatment strategy following progression on encorafenib and cetuximab.
TRIDENTE: Rechallenge With Encorafenib, Binimetinib, and Cetuximab
Abstract: 789RO
Presenter: Daisuke Kotani (Kashiwa, Japan)
Trial Type: Phase II
Session: Rapid Oral
TRIDENTE (jRCTs031210511) is a multicenter phase II study evaluating rechallenge with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab in patients with RAS wild-type, BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC who previously received an encorafenib-containing combination.
The original study protocol requires prior benefit from encorafenib and cetuximab, including at least a partial response, followed by progression. Patients must have an interval of at least four months between the last administration of encorafenib and initiation of study treatment.
The primary endpoint is investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR), with a planned enrollment of 21 patients. Secondary endpoints include PFS, overall survival (OS), disease control rate, and safety.
The ESMO 2026 presentation will report results of the TRIDENTE rechallenge strategy.
QTX3034: KRAS G12D Inhibition With Cetuximab ± mFOLFOX6
Abstract: 790RO
Presenter: Ignacio Garrido-Laguna (United States of America)
Trial Type: Phase I
Session: Rapid Oral
QTX3034 is an orally administered, G12D-preferring KRAS inhibitor being investigated in patients with KRAS G12D-mutated solid tumors, including colorectal cancer.
The first-in-human phase I study (NCT06227377) was designed to evaluate safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary antitumor activity of QTX3034 alone or in combination with cetuximab. The initial protocol included dose escalation and subsequent expansion cohorts in selected KRAS G12D-mutated tumor types.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present preliminary clinical results for QTX3034 combined with cetuximab, with or without mFOLFOX6, in patients with KRAS G12D-mutated colorectal cancer.
ABBV-400: Long-Term Follow-Up With Telisotuzumab Adizutecan and Bevacizumab
Abstract: 791RO
Presenter: Michael Cecchini (New Haven, United States of America)
Trial Type: Phase I
Session: Rapid Oral
Telisotuzumab adizutecan (ABBV-400; Temab-A) is a c-MET-targeting antibody-drug conjugate being investigated in advanced solid tumors, including colorectal cancer.
Earlier dose-expansion findings from a phase I study of telisotuzumab adizutecan in combination with bevacizumab versus standard of care in patients with third-line or later colorectal cancer were presented at ESMO 2025 (731MO).
At ESMO 2026, investigators will report longer-term follow-up from the phase I study, providing updated findings on the treatment combination compared with standard of care in previously treated colorectal cancer.
PRABITAS: Biweekly vs Conventional Lonsurf Plus Bevacizumab
Abstract: LBA31
Presenter: Hiroya Taniguchi (Nagoya, Japan, Aichi)
Trial Type: Phase III
Session: Rapid Oral
PRABITAS (jRCTs041230120) is a pragmatic, randomized, open-label phase III noninferiority trial comparing biweekly trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) plus bevacizumab with the conventional dosing schedule in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.
The study was designed to enroll 890 patients, randomized 1:1. In the conventional arm, FTD/TPI is administered on days 1–5 and 8–12, with bevacizumab on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. In the experimental arm, FTD/TPI is administered on days 1–5 with bevacizumab on day 1 of a 14-day cycle.
The primary endpoint is overall survival, assessed using a noninferiority design. The pragmatic approach was intended to include a broader patient population with eligibility criteria and trial procedures more closely reflecting routine clinical practice.
At ESMO 2026, PRABITAS will present its randomized phase III results comparing these dosing schedules.
CheckMate 8HW: Final Overall Survival With Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab
Abstract: LBA32
Presenter: Sara Lonardi (Padua, Italy)
Trial Type: Phase III
Session: Rapid Oral
CheckMate 8HW (NCT04008030) is an international, randomized, open-label phase III study comparing nivolumab plus ipilimumab with nivolumab monotherapy or chemotherapy in patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer.
Previously reported results demonstrated improved PFS with nivolumab plus ipilimumab compared with chemotherapy in the first-line setting. In the primary analysis published in The New England Journal of Medicine, 24-month PFS was 72% with nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus 14% with chemotherapy among patients with centrally confirmed MSI-H/dMMR tumors.
A separate analysis published in The Lancet demonstrated a significant PFS improvement with nivolumab plus ipilimumab compared with nivolumab monotherapy across treatment lines (HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.48–0.81; P=0.0003). Median PFS was not reached versus 39.3 months, respectively.
At ESMO 2026, CheckMate 8HW will report final overall survival results for nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus nivolumab or chemotherapy.
IROCAS: Adjuvant mFOLFIRINOX Versus mFOLFOX6 in High-Risk Stage III Colon Cancer
Abstract: LBA29
Presenter: Jaafar Bennouna (Suresnes, France)
Trial Type: Phase III
Session: Proffered Paper
IROCAS (NCT02967289; PRODIGE 52) is an international, randomized phase III trial evaluating adjuvant modified FOLFIRINOX versus modified FOLFOX6 in patients with high-risk stage III colon cancer, defined by T4 and/or N2 disease. The study was designed to randomize 640 patients following curative-intent resection. Patients receive either mFOLFIRINOX or mFOLFOX6 every two weeks for 24 weeks, corresponding to 12 treatment cycles.
The primary endpoint is three-year disease-free survival (DFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival and treatment-related toxicity.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present results from this phase III comparison of adjuvant chemotherapy intensification in high-risk stage III colon cancer.
EMT2: Eicosapentaenoic Acid After Resection of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
Abstract: LBA30
Presenter: Mark A. Hull (Leeds, United Kingdom)
Trial Type: Phase III
Session: Proffered Paper
The EPA for Metastasis Trial 2 (EMT2) is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial investigating eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, in patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases.
The trial evaluates 4 g daily of EPA ethyl ester (icosapent ethyl), initiated before surgery and continued afterward, compared with placebo. The study was designed to assess the effect of EPA on colorectal cancer recurrence and survival following resection of liver metastases with curative intent.
The phase III trial followed an earlier randomized phase II study in which the primary endpoint of histological tumor proliferation was not significantly different between EPA and placebo, although an exploratory analysis suggested a possible disease-free survival benefit.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present results from EMT2.
AZUR-1: Dostarlimab Monotherapy in dMMR/MSI-H Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Abstract: LBA87
Presenter: Andrea Cercek (New York, United States of America, NY)
Trial Type: Global registrational, single-arm study
Session: Proffered Paper
AZUR-1 (NCT05723562) is a multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial evaluating dostarlimab monotherapy in patients with previously untreated stage II/III dMMR/MSI-H locally advanced rectal cancer.
The trial enrolled 154 patients who received dostarlimab 500 mg intravenously every three weeks for nine cycles, unless treatment was discontinued because of progression or unacceptable toxicity. Tumor response was assessed using endoscopy, rectal MRI, and CT imaging. Patients achieving a clinical complete response could enter a nonoperative management period with scheduled surveillance.
On October 19, 2026, the FDA granted accelerated approval to dostarlimab for adults with stage II/III MSI-H/dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer, based on evidence from AZUR-1 and an investigator-led study. According to the FDA, the centrally assessed 12-month sustained clinical complete response rate (cCR12) was 47% among 116 evaluable patients in AZUR-1.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present the first results of AZUR-1 as a scheduled congress presentation, including clinical complete response with dostarlimab monotherapy.
UNION: Short-Course Radiotherapy Followed by Camrelizumab and Chemotherapy
Abstract: 3530O
Presenter: Zhen Yu Lin (Wuhan, China)
Trial Type: Phase III
Session: Proffered Paper
UNION (NCT04928807) is a randomized phase III trial comparing neoadjuvant short-course radiotherapy followed by camrelizumab and CAPOX chemotherapy with long-course chemoradiotherapy followed by CAPOX in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. Earlier results were published in Annals of Oncology in 2024. The intention-to-treat population included 231 patients, with 113 assigned to the experimental arm and 118 to the control arm.
The primary endpoint of pathological complete response was achieved in 39.8% of patients in the experimental arm compared with 15.3% in the control arm (OR 3.7; 95% CI, 2.0–6.9; P<0.001). At the time of that publication, longer-term event-free survival and overall survival outcomes were still maturing.
At ESMO 2026, investigators will present findings from the phase III UNION trial.
Bottom Line
The colorectal cancer presentations at ESMO 2026 will cover molecularly guided re-treatment, targeted therapies, alternative treatment schedules, and immunotherapy strategies across different disease settings. Phase III trials will provide additional data on adjuvant treatment, management following colorectal liver metastasis resection, and locally advanced rectal cancer. The congress will also feature the final overall survival analysis from CheckMate 8HW and the first congress presentation of AZUR-1 results following the FDA’s accelerated approval of dostarlimab for MSI-H/dMMR locally advanced rectal cancer.
Presentation details are available in the official ESMO programme.
Read more about 5 Pancreatic Cancer Trials to Watch at ESMO 2026 on OncoDaily.
