Efficacy and safety of regorafenib compared to TAS-102 for metastatic colorectal cancer: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Abstract

735 Background: Recent studies have shown regorafenib and TAS-102 (TAS) to be superior to placebo (P) in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, no studies have directly compared both drugs. Giving the lack of therapeutic options for these patients,, a systematic review to compare the efficacy and safety of regorafenib compared with TAS was performed, using indirect comparison methods. Methods: A systematic review using PubMed, Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane database to identify published and unpublished studies up to November 2015 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, involving regorafenib or TAS was performed. Data including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and toxicity were extracted. Pairwise direct meta-analyses (regorafenib versus placebo and TAS versus placebo) and indirect comparison (regorafenib versus TAS) using network meta-analyses methods (R package “netmeta”) to preserve randomization were performed using random effects. Results: 914 citations were initially identified among which 3 RCTs fulfilled eligibility criteria (CORRECT, CONCUR and RECOURSE trials) involving 1.764 patients (regorafenib: 641, TAS: 534, Placebo: 589). Subgroups of patients (1.659) who had not received prior regorafenib or TAS-102 were used to performed meta-analyses for efficacy. In indirect comparison, there were no statically differences observed between regorafenib and TAS-102 in overall survival (HR 0.96 95% CI 0.56-1.55 p = 0.082) and progression-free survival (HR HR 0.85 95% CI 0.40-1.80 p = 0.0182). In addition, there were no differences in objective response rate and disease control between both drugs. However, regorafenib has statistically more all grade toxicity (risk difference (RD) 0.31 CI 0.25-0.38 p = 0.001) and toxicity grade 3-5 (RD 0.22 CI 0.13-0.31 p < 0.001) compared to TAS. Conclusions: In this indirect comparison, regorafenib and TAS appeared to have similar efficacy. However, regorafenib has more toxicity compared to TAS. Post-approval real world data focusing on the comparative toxicity of regorafenib and TAS is warranted.