Efficacy of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors therapy in advanced cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR genes alterations: A meta-analysis of phase II clinical trials.

Abstract

54 Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor ( FGFR) gene fusions and rearrangements are involved in the pathogenesis of approximately 10 to 16 percent of patients with cholangiocarcinoma. There is no meta-analysis available of phase 2 clinical trials of FGFR inhibitors in these patients. In this article, we analyze the efficacy of FGFR inhibitors in advanced cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR gene fusions or other rearrangements. Methods: Systemic searches of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov were conducted with prespecified terms. The outcomes studied in our analysis were Objective response rate (ORR), Disease control rate (DCR), Progression-free survival (PFS), and Overall survival (OS). We calculated the pooled ORR for these studies by using weighted average ORR = Σ (ORR_i * weight_i). Calculate the standard error using the formula SE = √(Σ (wi x (1 - ORRi) x ORRi) / Σ (wi x ni)) and the 95% confidence interval using the formula CI = ORR ± (1.96 x SE). However, it is important to note that the pooled ORR is only as reliable as the individual ORR estimates from each study and may be subject to bias or confounding factors. This method was used to calculate the pooled DCR, PFS, and OS for our study as well. All data extraction and calculations were verified by three reviewers. Results: Eight phase II clinical trials met the inclusion criteria (1-8). Outcome data were available for all eight studies, comprising 562 patients with FGFR-positive advanced cholangiocarcinoma who received FGFR-targeted treatment regimens. The pooled objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 32.6% (95% CI 28.1-37.1) and 81.86% (95% CI 74.96-88.76), respectively. The pooled weighted progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 months, and pooled overall survival (OS) was 17.4 months. These findings suggest that FGFR-targeted treatment regimens have a promising ORR, DCR, PFS, and OS. Conclusions: FGFR inhibitors as a class in patients with advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR gene alterations showed clinically meaningful efficacy with durable objective responses. [Table: see text]