Efficacy and prognostic significance of triflurodine/tipiracil beyond oxaliplatin and irinotecan based chemotherapy in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer: An observational multicenter study.
Authors: Alghamdi Mohamed , Bazarbashi Shouki , Shereef Elsamany , Mahrous Mervat , Al shaer Omar , Gad Ahmed , Aseafan Mohamed , Abdelgelil, Mai , Alshabi Redhwan , Alghanmi Hosam , Nasser Nasser , Elhariry Hussam , Al Hamad Abdulaziz , Al-Saleh Khalid , Abdelaziz Nashwa 
Published: June 2021

e15586

Background: In Saudi Arabia, the incidence of colorectal cancer has been increased over the past few years. The optimal treatment beyond the second line is not fully understood. To the best of our knowledge, the efficacy and disease outcomes of triflurodine/tipiracil in Saudi patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer(mCRC) has not been studied yet. Our study is a real-life practice evaluation of the efficacy of triflurodine/tipiracil in patients with refractory mCRC. Moreover, the prognosis and the prognostic significance of the different clinical variables have been analyzed. Methods: A retrospective, multi-centers ( 5 centers representative of Saudi Arabia )observational study in patients with mCRC who have received triflurodine/tipiracil beyond oxaliplatin & Irinotecan-based chemotherapy between December 2018-December 2020.We aimed to assess the response to triflurodine/tipiracil, to evaluate the progression-free survival (PFS ), the overall survival (OS), and the associated factors of prognostic significance. Results:The data of 100 patients with refractory mCRC who has received triflurodine/tipiracil have been analyzed. The mean age was 55.2 +11.8 years. Forty-two patients were (42%) females and 58 (58%) were male patients. Sigmoid was the most common primary site of cancer in 35 (35%) patients, followed by rectum 29 (29%). Peritoneal metastasis was present in 17 (23.3%) patients ,liver in 51(56.6%) and lung in 39 (50.7%). Metastatic sites were ≥ 2 in 45 (45%) patients. Metastatic lesions were ≥ 5 in 65 (65%) patients. Xelox chemotherapy regimen was the most commonly used first-line chemotherapy which represents 43%, while Folfiri or Xeliri combination was the most used second line in 57 (60%). For the third line, Folfox or Xelox was used in 81 (83.5%) patients. The fourth line was given to 49 (67.1%). For first-line biological agents, Cetuximab was used most frequently 31 (46.3%).Evaluation of the response to treatment with triflurodine/tipiracil revealed one patient (1%) with a complete response,3 patients (3%) with partial response, 28 (28%) patients with stable disease, and 66 (66%) showed progressive disease. The estimated median progression-free survival was 5 months ( 3.839 - 6.161) and the median overall survival was 12 months (9.732-14.268). The log-rank analysis showed that the baseline neutrophils ≤ 75 % ( P-value= 0.0092) and low hemoglobin level (P-value= 0.0245) were strongly associated with a higher survival. By multivariate Cox regression analysis, the neutrophil count ≤ 75 % was the only independent predictor for survival. Conclusions: Trifluridine/tipiracil is effective in patients with refractory mCRC. The low neutrophil count might predict a better overall survival.