TAS-102 in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC): efficacy, tolerability, and quality of life in heavily pretreated elderly patients: a real-life study

• Published in: Drugs in Context 2020, Vol.9, p.1-8
• Main Authors: Cicero, Giuseppe, Addeo, Raffaele, De Luca, Rossella, Lo Re, Giuseppe, Gulotta, Leonardo, Marchesa, Pierenrico, Gulotta, Gaspare
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: chemotherapy; elderly patients; lonsurf; metastatic colorectal cancer; Original Research; quality of life; tas-102; trifluridine/ tipiracil
• ISSN: 1745-1981; 1740-4398; 1740-4398
• DOI: 10.7573/DIC.2020-6-3

TAS-102 is an oral monotherapy, combining trifluridine and tipiracil hydrochloride, indicated for the treatment of pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The aim of this real-life study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in heavily pretreated elderly patients with mCRC whose disease has progressed with standard therapies. In this retrospective observational study, we enrolled 50 elderly patients >70 years of age (median age 78 years) with a diagnosis of mCRC who were previously treated or were not considered candidates for treatment with other available therapies. Patients aged >70 years with advanced colorectal cancer and with an ECOG performance status of grade 0 ( =18) or grade 1 ( =32) were included. Overall survival and progression-free survival were the primary endpoints, whereas objective response rate, tolerability, and quality of life were the secondary endpoints. Treatment with TAS-102 appeared to be well tolerated and side effects were generally mild, achieving disease control and a benefit on quality of life. The median overall survival was 6.7 (95% CI 5.7-11.3) and the median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95% CI 1.2-3.2), estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. TAS-102 represents a manageable and effective therapeutic opportunity and appeared to be well tolerated with generally mild side effects in elderly patients with mCRC who were heavily pretreated with standard therapies.