Initial experience of TAS-102 chemotherapy in Australian patients with chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract

71 Background: For patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treatment with Trifluridine/Tipiracil, also known as TAS-102, improves overall survival. In Australia, TAS-102 was initially made available locally through patients self-funding, later via an industry sponsored Medicine Access Program (MAP) and then via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in real world Australian population. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer (TRACC) registry was undertaken. The characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving TAS-102 were assessed and compared to all TRACC patients and those enrolled in the registration study (RECOURSE). Results: Across 13 sites, 107 patients were treated with TAS-102 (non-PBS n = 27, PBS n = 80), The median number of patients per site was 7 (range: 1-17). The median age was 60 years (range: 31-83), compared to 67 for all TRACC patients and 63 for RECOURSE. Comparing registry TAS-102 and RECOURSE patients, 75% vs 100% were ECOG performance status 0-1, 74% vs 79% had initiated treatment more than 18 months from diagnosis of metastatic disease and 39% vs 49% were RAS wild type. Median time on treatment was 10.4 weeks (range: 1.7-32). Median clinician assessed progression-free survival was 3.3 compared to RECIST defined PFS of 2 months in RECOURSE study, while median overall survival was the same at 7.1 months. Two patients (2.3%) had febrile neutropenia and there were no treatment-related deaths in the real-world series, where TAS102 dose at treatment initiation was at clinician discretion. In the RECOURSE study there was a 4% febrile neutropenia rate and one treatment-related death. Conclusions: TRACC registry patients treated with TAS102 were younger than both TRACC patients overall and those from the RECOURSE trial. Less strict application of RECIST criteria and less frequent imaging may have contributed to an apparently longer PFS. However overall survival outcomes achieved with TAS102 in real world patients were comparable to findings from this pivotal trial with an acceptable rate of major adverse events.