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A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Starling, N; Elez, E; Strickler, JH; Benson, A; Oki, E; Mendez, G; Ferreiro, R; Lau, YL; Kawazoe, A; Tian, M; Campbell, N; Cohen, DN ...
Published in: Future Oncol
January 6, 2026

The role of perioperative immunotherapy as a chemotherapy-free option for patients with resectable mismatch repair-deficient/microsatellite instability-high (dMMR/MSI-H) colon cancer is evolving, with early-phase neoadjuvant studies reporting favorable long-term outcomes. AZUR-2 is an ongoing global, Phase III, open-label, randomized study evaluating the efficacy of perioperative dostarlimab monotherapy compared with standard of care (SoC) (adjuvant chemotherapy or surveillance) in adult patients with previously untreated, pathologically confirmed, radiologically evaluable T4N0 or Stage III resectable dMMR/MSIH colon adenocarcinoma. Patients will be randomized 2:1 to receive neoadjuvant dostarlimab 500 mg every 3 weeks (4 cycles), followed by surgery, then adjuvant dostarlimab 1000 mg every 6 weeks (6 cycles), or to receive immediate surgery followed by SoC. The primary endpoint is event-free survival assessed by blinded independent central review. The key secondary endpoint is overall survival; additional secondary endpoints include pathological response assessed by residual viable tumor determined by local assessment, safety, and tolerability.Clinical trial registration: NCT05855200 (www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Duke Scholars

Published In

Future Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1744-8301

Publication Date

January 6, 2026

Start / End Page

1 / 9

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis
 

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Starling, N., Elez, E., Strickler, J. H., Benson, A., Oki, E., Mendez, G., … Seligmann, J. F. (2026). A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design. Future Oncol, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2025.2606910
Starling, Naureen, Elena Elez, John H. Strickler, Al Benson, Eiji Oki, Guillermo Mendez, Reyes Ferreiro, et al. “A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design.Future Oncol, January 6, 2026, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2025.2606910.
Starling N, Elez E, Strickler JH, Benson A, Oki E, Mendez G, et al. A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design. Future Oncol. 2026 Jan 6;1–9.
Starling, Naureen, et al. “A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design.Future Oncol, Jan. 2026, pp. 1–9. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/14796694.2025.2606910.
Starling N, Elez E, Strickler JH, Benson A, Oki E, Mendez G, Ferreiro R, Lau YL, Kawazoe A, Tian M, Campbell N, Cohen DN, Edwards K, Stjepanovic N, Seligmann JF. A Phase III study of perioperative dostarlimab in patients with dMMR/MSI-H resectable colon cancer: AZUR-2 study design. Future Oncol. 2026 Jan 6;1–9.
Journal cover image

Published In

Future Oncol

DOI

EISSN

1744-8301

Publication Date

January 6, 2026

Start / End Page

1 / 9

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Oncology & Carcinogenesis
  • 3211 Oncology and carcinogenesis
  • 1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis