Treatment patterns and metastasectomy among mCRC patients receiving chemotherapy and biologics.
BACKGROUND
Several long-standing chemotherapy regimens are available to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) including: oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (FOLFOX); and irinotecan plus 5-FU and leucovorin (FOLFIRI). More recently, new biologic therapies were approved for use in mCRC.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined treatment patterns and trends in metastasectomy among newly diagnosed mCRC patients after the introduction of capecitabine (CAP) in 2001 and the biologic therapies in 2004.


METHODS
Using a large, US-based administrative medical claims database of a national commercially insured population, patients with newly diagnosed mCRC were identified from 2001 to 2005. At least 6 months of patient history prior to mCRC diagnosis were required to confirm patients were newly diagnosed. Patients were followed from initial mCRC diagnosis to death, disenrollment, or 12/31/2006. Chemotherapy and biologic treatments and rates of metastasectomy over time were analyzed.


RESULTS
A total of 3781 mCRC patients met the study criteria. The average time from mCRC diagnosis to initiation of systemic treatment decreased from 134.4 days (SD 261.2) to 61.7 days (SD 89.3) in 2001-2005 (p < 0.001). The most common first-line regimens were FOLFIRI (40%), 5-FU/LV (31%), and capecitabine (21%) in 2001, and FOLFOX plus bevacizumab (22%), FOLFOX alone (15%), 5-FU/LV (15%), and capecitabine (15%) in 2005. Among patients with ≥1 year of follow-up, the use of biologics increased from 37.3% in 2004 to 52.0% in 2005 (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients who underwent resection after systemic treatment increased from 2.9% to 5.6% in 2001-2005 (p = 0.169).


CONCLUSIONS
Over time the standard of care chemotherapy for 1st-line mCRC has changed from FOLFIRI to FOLFOX, and the use of biologics has become common. The percentage of patients who underwent resection after systemic treatment almost doubled during the study period.
Healthcare & Science, Thomson Reuters, Washington, DC, USA. xue.song@thomsonreuters.com
Xue
X
Song
Zhongyun
Z
Zhao
Beth
B
Barber
Christopher
C
Gregory
Peter Feng
PF
Wang
Stacey R
SR
Long
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059039:Standard of Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D001688:Biological Products; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin