Burden of illness in metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract

53 Background: Current treatment options for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have limited efficacy and are associated with substantial toxicity, especially for patients with mCRC refractory to standard therapies. Targeted agents may improve outcomes, compared with traditional chemotherapeutic approaches, in those patients with mCRC expressing actionable biomarkers. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes and associated health care costs by line of therapy among patients with mCRC. Methods: A retrospective analysis of Merative MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Administrative health claims databases was conducted. Adult patients with mCRC initiating systemic therapy between January 1, 2017 and September 30, 2021 were identified. Patient characteristics, time to discontinuation (TTD), time to next treatment (TTNT), and per-patient-per-month (PPPM) healthcare resource utilization and costs were evaluated for each line of therapy. Results: 3,455 patients with mCRC initiated systemic therapy during the study period and met all patient selection criteria. The median age at index was 56 years and median follow-up was 14 months. 1082 (31%), 372 (11%), and 185 (5%) patients went on to receive 2L, 3L, and 4L+ treatment, respectively. The most common regimens in 1-3L were as follows: 1L – FOLFOX; capecitabine, oxaliplatin; 2L - FOLFIRI+Bev; tipiracil/trifluridine; 3L – tipiracil/trifluridine; regorafenib. Median TTD in 1L through 3L was 22.0, 16.6, and 14.4 weeks, respectively. Median TTNT was 47, 26, and 21 weeks, in 1-3L, respectively. 184 (17%) and 265 (25%) of 2L patients experienced ≥1 inpatient and ≥1 emergency department (ED) visit during 2L treatment, respectively. During 2L treatment, patients had an average of 3.7±7.3 mCRC treatment-related outpatient visits per month. PPPM inpatient, ED, outpatient, and pharmacy costs are displayed. Conclusions: There is an unmet need for effective therapies in 2L+ mCRC, where clinical outcomes are poor. Later lines of therapy are associated with substantial HCRU and costs. [Table: see text]