title: TAS-102 (Lonsurf) for the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. A Concise Review.
abstract: Within the past several years, no chemotherapy has been sufficient to increase the overall survival of patients with chemorefractory colorectal cancer. TAS-102 (Lonsurf) is an oral fluoropyrimidine that is formed by the combination of 2 active drugs: trifluridine (a nucleoside analog) and tipiracil hydrochloride (a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor). This drug extended the median overall survival by approximately 2 months compared with placebo in a randomized phase III trial composed of Asian and non-Asian patients with refractory (or intolerant) metastatic colorectal cancer. The clinical development of TAS-102 began approximately a decade ago and included 2 pivotal randomized studies, which are discussed in this review. This drug has just been approved in Japan, and as soon as possible, it will be marketed in Western countries as well; it will therefore become the standard of care for this patient population. The optimal combination of TAS-102 with other agents, as well as the mechanism of resistance to this regimen should be defined in the near future.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy. Electronic address: zanib@numerica.it.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaniboni
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione Poliambulanza, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertocchi
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Ospedale di Treviglio, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Department, Ospedale di Treviglio, Italy.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrelli
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013941:Thymine; D014271:Trifluridine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014498:Uracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011759:Pyrrolidines; C000613803:trifluridine tipiracil drug combination; D014498:Uracil; D013941:Thymine; D014271:Trifluridine
keywords: Chemotherapy; Overall survival; Phase III trial; Pretreated patients; Trifluoridine/tipiracil