Clinical management of metastatic colorectal cancer in the era of precision medicine.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents approximately 10% of all cancers and is the second most common cause of cancer deaths. Initial clinical presentation as metastatic CRC (mCRC) occurs in approximately 20% of patients. Moreover, up to 50% of patients with localized disease eventually develop metastases. Appropriate clinical management of these patients is still a challenging medical issue. Major efforts have been made to unveil the molecular landscape of mCRC. This has resulted in the identification of several druggable tumor molecular targets with the aim of developing personalized treatments for each patient. This review summarizes the improvements in the clinical management of patients with mCRC in the emerging era of precision medicine. In fact, molecular stratification, on which the current treatment algorithm for mCRC is based, although it does not completely represent the complexity of this disease, has been the first significant step toward clinically informative genetic profiling for implementing more effective therapeutic approaches. This has resulted in a clinically relevant increase in mCRC disease control and patient survival. The next steps in the clinical management of mCRC will be to integrate the comprehensive knowledge of tumor gene alterations, of tumor and microenvironment gene and protein expression profiling, of host immune competence as well as the application of the resulting dynamic changes to a precision medicine-based continuum of care for each patient. This approach could result in the identification of individual prognostic and predictive parameters, which could help the clinician in choosing the most appropriate therapeutic program(s) throughout the entire disease journey for each patient with mCRC. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72:000-000.

Proteomics-Derived Biomarker Panel Facilitates Distinguishing Primary Lung Adenocarcinomas With Intestinal or Mucinous Differentiation From Lung Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

The diagnosis of primary lung adenocarcinomas with intestinal or mucinous differentiation (PAIM) remains challenging due to the overlapping histomorphological, immunohistochemical (IHC), and genetic characteristics with lung metastatic colorectal cancer (lmCRC). This study aimed to explore the protein biomarkers that could distinguish between PAIM and lmCRC. To uncover differences between the two diseases, we used tandem mass tagging-based shotgun proteomics to characterize proteomes of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples of PAIM (n = 22) and lmCRC (n = 17).Then three machine learning algorithms, namely support vector machine (SVM), random forest, and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, were utilized to select protein features with diagnostic significance. These candidate proteins were further validated in an independent cohort (PAIM, n = 11; lmCRC, n = 19) by IHC to confirm their diagnostic performance. In total, 105 proteins out of 7871 proteins were significantly dysregulated between PAIM and lmCRC samples and well-separated two groups by Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection. The upregulated proteins in PAIM were involved in actin cytoskeleton organization, platelet degranulation, and regulation of leukocyte chemotaxis, while downregulated ones were involved in mitochondrial transmembrane transport, vasculature development, and stem cell proliferation. A set of ten candidate proteins (high-level expression in lmCRC: CDH17, ATP1B3, GLB1, OXNAD1, LYST, FABP1; high-level expression in PAIM: CK7 (an established marker), NARR, MLPH, S100A14) was ultimately selected to distinguish PAIM from lmCRC by machine learning algorithms. We further confirmed using IHC that the five protein biomarkers including CDH17, CK7, MLPH, FABP1 and NARR were effective biomarkers for distinguishing PAIM from lmCRC. Our study depicts PAIM-specific proteomic characteristics and demonstrates the potential utility of new protein biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of PAIM and lmCRC. These findings may contribute to improving the diagnostic accuracy and guide appropriate treatments for these patients.

Prognostic and predictive impact of metastatic organ involvement on maintenance therapy in advanced metastatic colorectal cancer: Subgroup analysis of patients treated within the PanaMa trial (AIO KRK 0212).

Despite molecular selection, patients (pts) with RAS wildtype mCRC represent a heterogeneous population including diversity in metastatic spread. We investigated metastatic patterns for their prognostic and predictive impact on maintenance therapy with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid ± panitumumab. The study population was stratified according to (1) number of involved metastatic sites (single vs multiple organ metastasis), liver-limited disease vs (2) liver metastasis plus one additional site, and (3) vs liver metastasis plus ≥two additional sites. Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regressions were used to correlate efficacy endpoints. Single organ metastasis was observed in 133 pts (53.6%) with 102 pts (41.1%) presenting with liver-limited disease, while multiple organ metastases were reported in 114 pts (46.0). Multiple compared to single organ metastases were associated with less favorable PFS (HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.13-1.93; P = .004) and OS (HR 1.37, 95% CI 0.98-1.93; P = .068) of maintenance therapy. While metastatic spread involving one additional extrahepatic site was not associated with clearly impaired survival compared to liver-limited disease, pts with liver metastasis plus ≥two additional sites demonstrated less favorable PFS (HR 1.92, 95% CI 1.30-2.83; P < .001), and OS (HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.51-3.76; P < .001) of maintenance therapy. Pmab-containing maintenance therapy appeared active in both pts with multiple (HR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.86; P = .006) as well as to a lesser numerical extent in pts with single organ metastasis (HR 0.83; 95% CI, 0.57-1.21; P = .332; Interaction P = .183). These data may support clinical decisions when EGFR-based maintenance therapy is considered.

Trifluridine/Tipiracil Plus Bevacizumab for Vulnerable Patients With Pretreated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study (WJOG14520G).

BACKGROUND: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) plus bevacizumab has shown clinical benefit for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to standard therapy. However, few data have been available for patients with pretreated mCRC who are intolerant of intensive therapy (vulnerable). METHODS: We performed a multicenter retrospective study (WJOG14520G; TWILIGHT) of FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab for vulnerable patients with pretreated mCRC. Eligibility criteria included previous chemotherapy (although patients treated with all key cytotoxic agents, a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, were excluded) and intolerance of full-dose combination therapy with oxaliplatin or irinotecan at the start of FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab. RESULTS: The median age of 93 evaluable patients was 79 years (range, 21-90). Intolerance of intensive therapy was attributable to an older age in 60 (65%) patients, serious concomitant disease in 24 (26%) patients, and a poor performance status in 19 (20%) patients. FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab was administered as second-line treatment in 74 (80%) patients and as third- or fourth-line treatment in 19 (20%) patients. The objective response rate was 4.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4%-12.2%), and the disease control rate was 67.9% (95% CI, 56.6%-77.8%). With a median follow-up time of 21.6 months, median overall survival and progression-free survival were 18.6 months (95% CI, 12.1-23.2) and 6.3 months (95% CI, 5.0-8.3), respectively. Neutropenia of grade ≥3 developed in 50 (54%) patients, whereas 2 (2%) patients experienced febrile neutropenia, and no treatment-related death was observed. CONCLUSION: Our data show the potential efficacy and acceptable safety profile of FTD/TPI plus bevacizumab for vulnerable patients with pretreated mCRC.

Loss of RAS Mutations in Liquid Biopsies of Patients With Multi-Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Liquid biopsy (LB) is a non-invasive tool to evaluate the heterogeneity of tumors. Since RAS mutations (RAS-mut) play a major role in resistance to antiepidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), serial monitoring of RAS-mut with LB may be useful to guide treatment. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the loss of RAS-mut (NeoRAS-wt) in LB, during the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on patients with mCRC between January 2018 and December 2021. RAS-mut were examined in tissue biopsy, at mCRC diagnosis, and with LB, during treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with RAS-mut mCRC were studied. LB was performed after a median of 3 lines (0-7) of systemic treatment including anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) Mabs. NeoRAS-wt was detected in 13 patients (33.3%); 9 (69.2%) of them received further treatment with anti-EGFR Mabs with a disease control rate of 44.4%. Median overall survival (OS), from the date of LB testing, was 20 months in the NeoRAS-wt group and 9 months in the persistent RAS-mut group (log-rank 2.985; P = .08), with a 12-month OS of 84.6% and 57.7%, respectively. NeoRAS-wt was identified as a predictor of survival (HR = 0.29; P = .007), with an 11-month improvement in median OS and a 71% decrease in risk of death, in heavily pretreated patients. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, monitoring clonal evolution in mCRC by LB may provide an additional treatment line for patients with NeoRAS-wt in advanced disease.

Association between sidedness and survival among chemotherapy refractory metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with trifluridine/tipiracil or regorafenib.

BACKGROUND: The impact of sidedness on survival of later-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is undetermined. This study aimed to investigate the association between sidedness and survival among chemotherapy refractory patients with mCRC treated with trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) or regorafenib or both. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with mCRC treated with TAS-102 or regorafenib between 2015 and 2020 was retrospectively collected. Patients were stratified into TAS-102 first and regorafenib first, then subdivided into TAS-102 followed by regorafenib (T-R) and regorafenib followed by TAS-102 (R-T) groups. The oncologic outcomes were presented with time-to-treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: After matching, 376 TAS-102 patients and 376 regorafenib patients were included for outcomes comparison. TTF had insignificant differences while OS was significantly different between TAS-102 and regorafenib groups. Median TTF and OS were 1.9 months versus 2.0 months (P = .701) and 9.1 months versus 7.0 months (P = .008) in TAS-102 and regorafenib, respectively. The OS benefits were consistent regardless primary tumor location. Subgroup analysis with 174 T-R patients and 174 R-T patients was investigated for treatment sequences. TTF and OS had significant differences in both groups. Median TTF and OS were 8.5 months versus 6.3 months (P = .001) and 14.4 months versus 12.6 months (P = .035) in T-R and R-T groups, respectively. The TTF and OS benefits were persisted regardless primary tumor location. CONCLUSION: TAS-102 first provided a better survival benefit in chemotherapy refractory patients with mCRC across all sidedness. Further prospective studies are warranted to validate our conclusions.

Upfront resection versus no resection of the primary tumor in patients with synchronous metastatic colorectal cancer: the randomized phase III CAIRO4 study conducted by the Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group and the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: Upfront primary tumor resection (PTR) has been associated with longer overall survival (OS) in patients with synchronous unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in retrospective analyses. The aim of the CAIRO4 study was to investigate whether the addition of upfront PTR to systemic therapy resulted in a survival benefit in patients with synchronous mCRC without severe symptoms of their primary tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized phase III trial was conducted in 45 hospitals in The Netherlands and Denmark. Eligibility criteria included previously untreated mCRC, unresectable metastases, and no severe symptoms of the primary tumor. Patients were randomized (1 : 1) to upfront PTR followed by systemic therapy or systemic therapy without upfront PTR. Systemic therapy consisted of first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab in both arms. Primary endpoint was OS in the intention-to-treat population. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01606098. RESULTS: Between August 2012 and February 2021, 206 patients were randomized. In the intention-to-treat analysis, 204 patients were included (n = 103 without upfront PTR, n = 101 with upfront PTR) of whom 116 were men (57%) with median age of 65 years (interquartile range 59-71 years). Median follow-up was 69.4 months. Median OS in the arm without upfront PTR was 18.3 months (95% confidence interval 16.0-22.2 months) compared with 20.1 months (95% confidence interval 17.0-25.1 months) in the upfront PTR arm (P = 0.32). The number of grade 3-4 events was 71 (72%) in the arm without upfront PTR and 61 (65%) in the upfront PTR arm (P = 0.33). Three deaths (3%) possibly related to treatment were reported in the arm without upfront PTR and four (4%) in the upfront PTR arm. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of upfront PTR to palliative systemic therapy in patients with synchronous mCRC without severe symptoms of the primary tumor does not result in a survival benefit. This practice should no longer be considered standard of care.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors for POLE or POLD1 proofreading-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: POLE and POLD1 proofreading deficiency (POLE/D1pd) define a rare subtype of ultramutated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC; over 100 mut/Mb). Disease-specific data about the activity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in POLE/D1pd mCRC are lacking and it is unknown whether outcomes may be different from mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) mCRCs treated with ICIs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this global study, we collected 27 patients with mCRC harboring POLE/D1 mutations leading to proofreading deficiency and treated with anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 alone +/- anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 agents. We collected clinicopathological and genomic characteristics, response, and survival outcomes after ICIs of POLE/D1pd mCRC and compared them with a cohort of 610 dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients treated with ICIs. Further genomic analyses were carried out in an independent cohort of 7241 CRCs to define POLE and POLD1pd molecular profiles and mutational signatures. RESULTS: POLE/D1pd was associated with younger age, male sex, fewer RAS/BRAF driver mutations, and predominance of right-sided colon cancers. Patients with POLE/D1pd mCRC showed a significantly higher overall response rate (ORR) compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC (89% versus 54%; P = 0.01). After a median follow-up of 24.9 months (interquartile range: 11.3-43.0 months), patients with POLE/D1pd showed a significantly superior progression-free survival (PFS) compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.08-0.74, P = 0.01] and superior overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.38, 95% CI 0.12-1.18, P = 0.09). In multivariable analyses including the type of DNA repair defect, POLE/D1pd was associated with significantly improved PFS (HR = 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.69, P = 0.013) and OS (HR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.98, P = 0.047). Molecular profiling showed that POLE/D1pd tumors have higher tumor mutational burden (TMB). Responses were observed in both subtypes and were associated with the intensity of POLE/D1pd signature. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with POLE/D1pd mCRC showed more favorable outcomes compared to dMMR/MSI-H mCRC to treatment with ICIs in terms of tumor response and survival.

Circulating vitamin D level before initiating chemotherapy impacts on the time-to-outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D (VD) is implicated in various health conditions, including colorectal cancer (CRC). To investigate potential relationships between pre-chemotherapy VD levels and the time-to-outcome in metastatic CRC patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we performed thorough searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus/ELSEVIER databases (covering the years 2002 to 2022). Inclusion criteria mandated studies to report on individuals aged 18 years and above with histologically confirmed stage IV CRC. Additionally, studies needed to provide data on VD levels before chemotherapy, along with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall survival (OS) and/or progression-free survival (PFS). Five articles were identified with the aim of establishing a combined risk estimate for death and progression based on pre-chemotherapy VD levels. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias were evaluated using Tau2, I2 statistics, and a Funnel plot. RESULTS: Although no significant heterogeneity was observed in time-to-outcome among the selected studies, variations in technical assessments and serum VD concentration measurements were noted. The pooled analysis, involving 1712 patients for OS and 1264 patients for PFS, revealed a 47% increased risk of death (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.21-1.79) and a 38% increased risk of progression (HR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.13-1.70) for patients with lower VD levels, as indicated by fixed-effects models. CONCLUSIONS: Our results emphasize the adverse effects of low VD concentration on the time-to-outcome in metastatic CRC patients. This underscores the importance of investigating VD supplementation as an innovative approach in this clinical setting to enhance patient outcomes.

Proteomic analysis of plasma exosomes in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), especially metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), is a major priority and research challenge. We screened for expression differences in the plasma exosomal proteomes of patients with mCRC, those with CRC, and healthy controls (HCs) to discover potential biomarkers for mCRC. METHODS: Plasma samples from five patients with mCRC, five patients with CRC, and five HCs were collected and processed to isolate exosomes by ultracentrifugation. Exosomal protein concentrations were determined using the BCA kit, and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was utilized to identify and analyze the proteins. RESULTS: From the exosomes isolated from plasma samples, a total of 994 quantifiable proteins were detected, including 287 differentially expressed proteins identified by quantitative proteomics analyses. Totals of 965, 963 and 968 proteins were identified in mCRC patients, CRC patients, and HCs, respectively. The study identified 83 proteins with differential expression in the plasma exosomes of mCRC patients. The top 10 upregulated proteins in the mCRC group and CRC groups were ITGA4, GNAI1, SFTPA2, UGGT1, GRN, LBP, SMIM1, BMP1, HMGN5, and MFAP4, while the top 10 downregulated proteins were PSMB8, LCK, RAB35, PSMB4, CD81, CD63, GLIPR2, RAP1B, RAB30, and CES1. Western Blot validation data confirmed that ITGA4 and GNAI1 were unequivocally enriched in plasma-derived exosomes from mCRC patients. CONCLUSIONS: These differential proteins offer potential new candidate molecules for further research on the pathogenesis of mCRC and the identification of therapeutic targets. This study sheds light on the potential significance of plasma exosome proteomics studies in our understanding and treatment of mCRC.

Phase I study of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) plus irinotecan in combination with bevacizumab as a second-line therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is to determine the recommended dose of the TAS-102, irinotecan plus bevacizumab regimen and assess its safety and efficacy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin treatment. METHODS: A 3 + 3 designed dose escalation was performed. Patients were administered TAS-102 (30-35 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1-5) and irinotecan (150-165 mg/m2 on day 1) combined with a fixed dose of bevacizumab (5 mg/kg on day 1) every two weeks. The primary endpoint was the determination of the recommended phase II dose. RESULTS: Eighteen patients were enrolled: 6 at the Level 1 (TAS-102 30 mg/m2 twice daily, irinotecan 150 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab 5 mg/kg), six at the Level 2 (TAS-102 35 mg/m2 twice daily, irinotecan 150 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab 5 mg/kg), and six at the Level 3 (TAS-102 30 mg/m2 twice daily, irinotecan 165 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab 5 mg/kg). Five dose-limiting toxicities occurred: one observed at Level 1 (thrombocytopenia), two at Level 2 (neutropenia and diarrhea), and two at Level 3 (fatigue and neutropenia). The RP2D was established as TAS-102 30 mg/m2 twice daily and irinotecan 150 mg/m2 plus bevacizumab 5 mg/kg. The most frequent grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events were neutropenia (33.3%), diarrhea (16.7%), and thrombocytopenia (11.1%). No treatment-related death occurred. Two patients (11.1%) experienced partial responses and 14 (77.8%) had stable disease. CONCLUSION: The regimen of TAS-102, irinotecan, and bevacizumab is tolerable with antitumor activity for metastatic colorectal cancer patients refractory to first-line fluoropyrimidines and oxaliplatin treatment.

Survival Outcome in Early-Onset Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multicenter-Matched Pair Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Survival of patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has increased over the last decades. These benefits appear to be restricted to patients aged 50 and above. However, among the population aged <50, colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are significantly rising. The clinical benefit of treatment in this population still is a matter of debate. We aim to compare the clinical outcome between patients aged 50 and younger. METHODS: In this retrospective, observational study, we analyzed data from 1,077 patients treated for mCRC at three cancer centers in Austria from January 2005 to December 2019. Patients were divided into two groups based on age at diagnosis: <50 years (eo-CRC) and >50 years (regular-onset CRC, ro-CRC). Propensity score matching was used to control for potential biases, and survival outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The differences in tumor characteristics between eo-CRC and ro-CRC in the overall population were primarily related to tumor sidedness and disease-free survival following intended curative resection. Our data show that eo-CRC patients underwent metastases resection more often and received significantly more lines of treatment in the palliative setting. Overall survival was superior in eo-CRC compared to ro-CRC, even after adjusting for sidedness, timing of metastases, sex, number of treatment lines, and resection of metastases by propensity scoring. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that younger patients benefit at least to the same magnitude or even more from mCRC-treatment than patients aged 50 or above.

Is Older Age an Independent Prognostic Factor of Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer?

INTRODUCTION: Older patients (≤75 years) with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) may have worse survival than non-older patients. We hypothesized that, rather than age alone, concurrent factors may be more relevant for real-world survival. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with CRC in a 5-year period (2014-2018) were analyzed to determine which factors influenced in overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate OS. Univariate and multivariate analysis was conducted by Cox regression analysis. The study was approved by Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Out of 477 patients diagnosed with CRC, 231 had advanced disease. Ninety-two patients (40%) were older than 75 years; median OS (mOS) was 17.1 m (95% CI: 14.3-23.3), p < 0.001. In non-older patients, mOS was 26.7 m (95% CI: 21.9-32.6), p < 0.001. We evaluated eighteen concurrent factors that included characteristics related to the patient (age, sex, comorbidities, polypharmacy, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), and nutritional status), to the tumor (stage at diagnosis, tumor side, molecular profile, tumor burden, location, and number of metastasis), and to the treatment administered (systemic treatment for advanced disease, chemotherapy schedule and number of lines, severe adverse events and dose reductions, and surgery of liver metastasis). In the univariate analysis, age at diagnosis, ECOG, nutritional status, tumor side, molecular profile, tumor burden, systemic treatment for advanced disease, and surgery of liver metastases had significant impact on survival. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only four factors (tumor burden, nutritional status, systemic treatment for advanced disease, and surgery of liver metastases) were independently associated with OS but not older age at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Older age is not an independent survival prognostic factor for advanced CRC. Tumor burden, nutritional status, systemic treatment for advanced disease, and surgery of liver metastasis were significant factors associated with OS. These findings suggest that older patients should not be excluded from cancer treatment based on age alone.

Predicting Trifluridine/Tipiracil Treatment Outcomes in Refractory Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Multicenter Exploratory Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: There are no recommended biomarkers to identify patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who would benefit the most from trifluridine/tipiracil (TTP). The exploratory analysis of the RECOURSE trial revealed that patients with low tumor burden and indolent disease derive greater benefit in terms of both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Nevertheless, the final answer on the TTP real impact on the well-being of patients with late-stage mCRC will come from real-world data. METHODS: The aim of this retrospective exploratory study was to investigate the effectiveness of TTP in mCRC with regard to the duration of standard treatment and other influencing variables. The study included 260 patients from the three largest Croatian oncology centers who began treatment with TTP in the third or fourth line between 2018 and 2020. RESULTS: The median OS and PFS for the entire cohort were 6.53 and 2.50 months, respectively. Patients with more aggressive disease, defined as those whose time to progression on the first two lines of standard therapy was less than 18 months, had significantly shorter PFS (2.40 vs. 2.57 months, hazard ratio [HR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.84). There was also a tendency toward shorter OS (6.10 vs. 6.30 months, HR 1.32, 95% CI: 0.99-1.78) but without statistical significance. Patients with ECOG PS 0, without liver metastases, and with RAS mutation had both longer OS and PFS. No influence was detected from other variables including age, sex, primary tumor location, and tumor burden. CONCLUSION: With regard to the results of the previously conducted trials, the study concludes that indolent disease, good general condition, and absence of liver metastases are positive predictive factors for TTP treatment.

High serum proteinase-3 levels predict poor progression-free survival and lower efficacy of bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: To improve the prognosis of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), investigating predictive biomarkers of their prognosis and chemotherapeutic responsiveness is necessary. This study aimed to analyze the clinical significance of serum proteinase-3 (PRTN3) as a predictor for prognosis and chemosensitivity, especially to bevacizumab therapy, in mCRC. METHODS: This single-center retrospective observational study enrolled 79 patients with mCRC in our hospital and 353 patients with colorectal cancer in the TCGA database. Preoperative serum PRTN3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis according to serum PRTN3 levels were then evaluated. PRTN3 expression in tumor and stromal cells was evaluated immunohistochemically. The impact of PRTN3 levels on angiogenesis and bevacizumab sensitivity was evaluated using the tube formation assay. RESULTS: Serum PRTN3 levels were an independent poor prognostic factor for progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio, 2.082; 95% confidence interval, 1.118-3.647; P=0.010) in patients with mCRC. Similarly, prognostic analysis with TCGA data sets showed poorer overall survival in patients with PRTN3 expression than that in patients without PRTN3 expression, especially in patients with stage IV. Immunohistochemical analysis of resected specimens revealed that stromal neutrophils expressed PRTN3, and their expression level was significantly correlated with serum PRTN3 levels. Interestingly, the effectiveness of first-line chemotherapy was significantly poorer in the high serum PRTN3 level group. High serum PRTN3 was significantly associated with poor PFS (hazard ratio, 3.027; 95% confidence interval, 1.175-7.793; P=0.0161) in patients treated with bevacizumab, an anti-angiogenic inhibitor. The tube formation assay revealed that PRTN3 administration notably augmented angiogenesis while simultaneously attenuating the anti-angiogenic influence exerted by bevacizumab therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PRTN3 levels could be a novel predictive biomarker of PFS of first-line chemotherapy, especially for bevacizumab therapy, in patients with mCRC.

Safety of first-line systemic therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of first-line systemic therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer through network meta-analysis. METHODS: The literature from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was searched from the inception of the databases to August 15, 2023, and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied to screen studies. The Cochrane Bias Risk Assessment Tool (RoB 2.0) was used to evaluate the quality of the included literature. Network meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 15.0 and R4.3.1 software to compare the incidence of adverse events (AEs) among different treatment regimens. RESULTS: A total of 53 randomized controlled trials, involving 17,351 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), were ultimately included, encompassing 29 different therapeutic approaches. According to SUCRA rankings, the CAPOX regimen is most likely to rank first in terms of safety, while the FOLFOXIRI + panitumumab regimen is most likely to rank last. In terms of specific AEs, the CAPOX regimen, whether used alone or in combination with targeted drugs (bevacizumab and cetuximab), is associated with a reduced risk of neutropenia and febrile neutropenia, as well as an increased risk of thrombocytopenia and diarrhea. The FOLFOX regimen, with or without bevacizumab, is linked to an increased risk of neutropenia and peripheral sensory neuropathy. The FOLFIRI/CAPIRI + bevacizumab regimen is associated with a reduced risk of peripheral sensory neuropathy. S-1 and S-1 + oxaliplatin are well-tolerated in terms of gastrointestinal reactions. The FOLFOXIRI regimen, whether used alone or in combination with targeted drugs, is associated with various AEs. CONCLUSION: In summary, the CAPOX regimen may be the safest option among the first-line systemic treatment regimens for mCRC patients, while the FOLFOXIRI + panitumumab regimen may be associated with a higher incidence of grade 3 or higher AEs.

Real-world dosing of regorafenib and outcomes among patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a retrospective analysis using US claims data.

BACKGROUND: The randomized, dose-optimization, open-label ReDOS study in US patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) showed that, compared with a standard dosing approach, initiating regorafenib at 80 mg/day and escalating to 160 mg/day depending on tolerability increased the proportion of patients reaching their third treatment cycle and reduced the incidence of adverse events without compromising efficacy. Subsequently, the ReDOS dose-escalation strategy was included as an alternative regorafenib dosing option in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Clinical Practice Guidelines. A retrospective analysis was conducted using a US claims database to assess whether inclusion of this dose-escalation strategy in NCCN Guidelines has influenced the use of flexible dosing in routine US clinical practice, and to describe clinical outcomes pre- and post-inclusion in NCCN Guidelines. METHODS: Patients with CRC in the Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart database initiating regorafenib for the first time between January 2016 and June 2020 were stratified based on whether they initiated regorafenib pre- or post-inclusion of ReDOS in NCCN Guidelines, and in two groups: flexible dosing (< 160 mg/day; < 84 tablets in the first treatment cycle) and standard dosing (160 mg/day; ≥ 84 tablets in the first treatment cycle). The primary endpoints were the proportion of patients who initiated their third treatment cycle and the mean number of treatment cycles per group. RESULTS: 703 patients initiated regorafenib during the study period, of whom 310 (44%) initiated before and 393 (56%) initiated after inclusion of ReDOS in NCCN Guidelines. After inclusion in the guidelines, the proportion of patients who received flexible dosing increased from 21% (n = 66/310) to 45% (n = 178/393), the proportion who received standard dosing decreased from 79% (n = 244/310) to 55% (n = 215/393), the proportion who initiated their third treatment cycle increased from 36% (n = 113/310) to 46% (n = 179/393), and the mean (standard deviation) number of treatment cycles increased from 2.6 (2.9) to 3.2 (3.1). CONCLUSIONS: Following inclusion of ReDOS in NCCN Guidelines, real-world data suggest that US clinicians have markedly increased use of flexible dosing in clinical practice, potentially maximizing clinical benefits and safety outcomes for patients with metastatic CRC receiving regorafenib.

Impacts of systemic treatments on health-related quality of life for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: There is limited evidence of comparative results among different treatments regarding impacts of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We aimed to compare efficacy of systemic treatments on HRQoL among patients with mCRC. METHODS: We collected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reported in English up until July 2023, from databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, and prominent conference databases, for this Bayesian network meta-analysis. Phase 2 or 3 trials that evaluated at least two therapeutic regimens were included. Primary outcomes were short-term and long-term mean changes in EORTC QLQ-C30 global health status/quality of life (GHS/QoL) scores. Secondary outcome was mean change in EQ-5D health utility scores. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used as effect size. Subgroup analysis was performed based on whether patients received systemic treatments before. We conducted various sensitivity analyses, including differentiating between chemotherapy types, and analyzed patient cohorts with non-specified gene expression levels as well as those with target KRAS expression statuses. The current systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023453315 and CRD42023420498). RESULTS: Immunotherapy and targeted therapy significantly improved HRQoL over chemotherapy, with MDs of 9.27 (95% CI: 3.96 to 14.6) and 4.04 (95% CI: 0.11 to 7.94), respectively. Monotherapy significantly outperformed both combination therapy (MD 5.71, 95%CI 0.78 to 10.63) and no active treatment (MD 3.7, 95%CI 1.41 to 6.01) regarding GHS/QoL in the short-term. Combining targeted therapy with chemotherapy did not improve HRQoL. Focusing on HRQoL, cetuximab excelled when gene expression baselines were unspecified. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses upheld these robust findings, unaffected by model or patient baseline characteristics. Evidence from clinical trials without specific gene level data suggested that monotherapies, especially targeted therapies such as cetuximab, demonstrated superiority in HRQoL. For KRAS wild-type patients, no significant HRQoL differences emerged between chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or their combination.. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted therapies and immunotherapy demonstrate superior HRQoL benefits, monotherapy such as cetuximab is associated with significant improvements as compared to combination therapy. However, tailoring these results to individual gene expression profiles requires more evidence.

Confounding mitigation for the exposure-response relationship of bevacizumab in colorectal cancer patients.

AIMS: The exposure-response relationship of bevacizumab may be confounded by various factors, including baseline characteristics, time-dependent target engagement and recursive relationships between exposure and response, requiring effective mitigation. This study aimed to investigate the exposure-response relationships of bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients while mitigating potential biases. METHODS: Bevacizumab pharmacokinetics was described using target-mediated drug disposition modelling. Relationships between target kinetics, progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survivals were assessed using joint pharmacokinetic and parametric hazard function models. Both prognostic-driven and response-driven potential biases were mitigated. These models evaluated the impact of increased antigen target levels, clearance and intensified dosing regimen on survival. RESULTS: Estimated target-mediated pharmacokinetic parameters in 130 assessed patients were baseline target levels (R0 = 8.4 nM), steady-state dissociation constant (KSS = 10 nM) and antibody-target complexes elimination constant (kint = 0.52 day-1). The distribution of R0 was significantly associated with increased baseline concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen, circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and the presence of extrahepatic metastases. Unbound target levels (R) significantly influenced both progression and death hazard functions. Increasing baseline target levels and/or clearance values led to decreased bevacizumab unbound concentrations, increased R levels and shortened PFS and OS, while increasing bevacizumab dose led to decreased R and longer survival. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between bevacizumab concentrations, target involvement and clinical efficacy by effectively mitigating potential sources of bias. Most of the target amount may be tumoural in mCRC. Future studies should provide a more in-depth description of this relationship.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Krukenberg Tumors From Colorectal Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian metastases from gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal cancer, also known as Krukenberg tumors (KTs), present unique challenges in management due to diagnostic uncertainty, decreased responsiveness to systemic therapies compared to other sites of metastasis, and associated debilitating symptomatology. Thus, we sought to characterize our institutional outcomes in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with KTs. METHODS: A retrospective single-institution study was performed identifying adult, female patients from 2012 to 2021 with a diagnosis of mCRC. Patient demographics and clinicopathologic characteristics were collected and analyzed. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariable analyses, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed. RESULTS: Of 235 mCRC patients, 45 (19.1%) had KTs, 41 (91.1%) of whom had KTs in conjunction with other metastatic sites. Other initial sites of metastasis included the liver (n = 93, 39.6%), lung (n = 28, 11.9%), and peritoneum (n = 18, 7.7%). In the KT cohort, the median age was 48 y, 53.3% were non-Hispanic White, 100% had microsatellite stable tumors, 33.3% had Kristen Rat Sarcoma Virus (KRAS) mutations, and 6.7% had V-raf Murine Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog B (BRAF) mutations. Fifty five point six percent of KT patients underwent cytoreductive surgery (CRS), 24.4% underwent palliative debulking, and 20% underwent no surgical intervention. Reasons for not undergoing CRS were disease-related (n = 14, 70%), due to poor performance status (n = 1, 5%), or both (n = 5, 25%). Five-year overall survival was 48.2% in KT patients who underwent CRS. Poor tumor grade was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio 10.69, 95% confidence interval 1.20-95.47, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Almost 90% of our patient cohort with KTs from mCRC experience additional sites of metastasis. Around half of KT patients who underwent CRS were alive at 5 y.