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We surface recruiting colorectal cancer trials from ClinicalTrials.gov with plain-English eligibility guidance. Your RAS status, MSI-H, BRAF, and HER2 results are the key factors — knowing them is the first step to finding the right trial.
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Colorectal cancer trial eligibility is highly biomarker-driven. These results — especially RAS status, MSI, and BRAF — appear in almost every CRC eligibility criteria. Find them on your molecular pathology report.
RAS wild-type means no KRAS or NRAS mutations are present in your tumor. This matters because anti-EGFR therapies (cetuximab, panitumumab) only work in RAS wild-type CRC — and dozens of trials use these agents as a backbone. About 45% of colorectal cancers are RAS wild-type.
If you don't know your RAS status, ask your oncologist — it should be on your molecular pathology report.
Yes — MSI-H (microsatellite instability-high) is one of the best immunotherapy indicators in any solid tumor. Pembrolizumab is already approved for first-line MSI-H metastatic CRC. Active trials include pembrolizumab + anti-VEGF combinations, dual checkpoint blockade, and novel immunotherapy approaches.
MSI-H is also found in ~15% of early-stage CRC (Stage II/III) — adjuvant immunotherapy trials are recruiting for these patients too.
BRAF V600E CRC behaves differently from BRAF V600E melanoma — EGFR feedback reactivation limits single-agent BRAF inhibitor responses. The approved regimen is encorafenib + cetuximab (BEACON) for second-line. Active trials test triplet combinations (BRAF + MEK + EGFR) and frontline settings.
BRAF V600E CRC also has higher rates of MSI-H — make sure both have been tested.
Yes — this is one of the newest and fastest-growing categories. Sotorasib + panitumumab is now approved. Multiple Phase 2/3 trials are recruiting for: adagrasib + cetuximab combinations, novel KRAS G12C inhibitors, and combination strategies.
KRAS G12C affects ~4% of colorectal cancers — a targetable mutation that was considered "undruggable" until 2021.
After standard first and second-line regimens, options by molecular profile: RAS WT → anti-EGFR combination trials; KRAS G12C → sotorasib/adagrasib combinations; BRAF V600E → BEACON-based combinations; MSI-H → immunotherapy combinations; HER2 amplified → tucatinib + trastuzumab (MOUNTAINEER). Even after two prior lines, there are trials specifically designed for your situation.
Ask your oncologist for comprehensive molecular profiling. Standard CRC testing should include: RAS/RAF (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF), MMR/MSI testing, HER2 (for RAS/BRAF wild-type patients), and NTRK fusion. A broad NGS panel (FoundationOne CDx, Tempus xT, Caris) covers all of these at once.
If you already have a pathology report, upload it to Alongside — we'll identify which biomarkers are present and which trials they qualify for.
Phase 1 tests safety. Phase 2 tests whether the treatment works. Phase 3 compares the new treatment against the current standard. Most patients look for Phase 2 or 3 trials, where the treatment has shown early promise.
Every trial has a checklist of who can and cannot join. These might include your cancer stage, specific gene mutations, prior treatments, age, and overall health. Meeting these is required — not optional.
No. The experimental treatment in a clinical trial is free. You may still have to pay for routine care like doctor visits, but the trial drug or procedure itself is covered by the sponsor.
Recruiting means the trial is actively looking for participants right now. "Not yet recruiting" means it's approved but hasn't started. "Active, not recruiting" means it's ongoing but has all the participants it needs.