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BioMed Research International
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 143273, 9 pages
Effectiveness and Safety of Intensive Triplet Chemotherapy Plus Bevacizumab, FIr-B/FOx, in Young-Elderly Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients
1Medical Oncology, S. Salvatore Hospital, University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
2Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
3Radiology, S. Salvatore Hospital, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
4Hepatobiliar-Pancreatic Surgery, S. Salvatore Hospital, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy
Received 26 June 2013; Revised 31 August 2013; Accepted 13 September 2013
Academic Editor: Hidekazu Kuramochi
Copyright © 2013 Gemma Bruera et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Four-drug regimens, such as FIr-B/FOx schedule, can improve efficacy of first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC) patients. The present study specifically evaluates feasibility of FIr-B/FOx first-line intensive regimen in fit young-elderly MCRC patients, representing approximately 40% of overall MCRC patients. Activity, efficacy, and safety were equivalent to overall MCRC patients, not significantly different according to KRAS genotype. Clinical outcome was significantly prolonged in liver-limited compared to other/multiple metastatic disease. Safety evaluation of the individual young-elderly patient showed that limiting toxicity syndromes (LTS) in multiple sites were significantly increased, compared to LTS in single site, with respect to non-elderly patients.
Clinical management of MCRC is faced with different options and lines of treatment according to patients’ fitness, extension of metastatic disease, and KRAS genotype [1–6]. First line triplet regimens of chemotherapeutic drugs, or doublet associated to bevacizumab (BEV) or cetuximab, reported in phase III trials objective response rate (ORR) 39%–68%, progression-free survival (PFS) 7.2–10.6 months, and overall survival (OS) 19.9–26.1 months [2, 4, 6–8]. More intensive triplet chemotherapy plus targeted agents can further achieve ORR 82%, liver metastasectomies 26%, PFS 12 months, OS 28 months [1–5]. In liver-limited (L-L) disease, metastasectomies were 54%, and clinical outcome was significantly improved, particularly in KRAS wild-type patients [3, 5].
Older patients are usually underrepresented in clinical trials, despite the increased incidence with age, and often undertreated in clinical practice. Retrospective studies showed similar safety and efficacy in fit elderly compared to younger patients [9–11]. Elderly patients require a decision-making process including functional, nutritional, and co-morbidity status to discriminate fitness and tailor medical treatment . Fit patients ≥70 years benefit from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as younger patients: ORR 23.9%, PFS 5.5 months, and OS 10.8 months . A retrospective review and a pooled analysis reported no different activity and efficacy [14, 15]. The same benefit was reported from irinotecan (CPT-11) containing chemotherapy in fit older ≥70 years ; age was not an independent prognostic factor for OS . The significantly improved relative benefit of FOLFOX did not differ by age . In the OPTIMOX1 trial, ORR 59%, median PFS 9.0 months, and median OS 20.7 months were comparable in old-elderly patients . In the FOCUS2 trial, specifically designed to evaluate first line reduced-dose (80%) of 5-FU or capecitabine with or without oxaliplatin (OXP), in old-elderly and/or frail patients, addition of OXP significantly improved ORR, and trendly PFS, but not OS . Treatment efficacy was consistent across subgroups, including age, when BEV was combined with CPT-11-based therapy . In fit elderly patients, addition of BEV to 5-FU based chemotherapy significantly prolonged PFS (9.2-9.3 months) and OS (17.4–19.3 months) [22, 23]. In BRiTE and BEAT studies, no different PFS was observed; median OS decreased with age [24, 25]. No impact on PFS and OS was observed by age and/or comorbidities in patients treated with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI added or not to cetuximab . Addition of panitumumab to FOLFOX showed no clear benefit in PFS in elderly and performance status 2 patients .
In the randomized phase III trial comparing FOLFOXIRI with FOLFIRI, age was not a significant factor for activity and efficacy; elderly patients showed median OS 16.9 and 19.9 months with FOLFIRI or FOLFOXIRI, respectively [28, 29]. ORR was significantly lower in older patients treated with FOLFOXIRI ; no differences were reported in PFS and OS. Patients underwent metastasectomies without increased morbidity or mortality, irrespective of age.
Here, we report a retrospective analysis evaluating activity, efficacy, and safety of first-line FIr-B/FOx intensive regimen and the prognostic value of extension of metastatic disease [4, 5] in fit young-elderly MCRC patients enrolled in a previously reported phase II study  and in the expanded clinical program proposing first-line FIr-B/FOx treatment.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Patient Eligibility
Present retrospective analysis evaluated consecutive young-elderly patients 65 to 75 years enrolled in a previously reported phase II study  and in the expanded clinical program proposing first-line FIr-B/FOx treatment. Patients who were eligible were with histologically confirmed diagnosis of measurable MCRC, performance status ≤2, adequate hematological, renal, and hepatic functions, and life expectancy >3 months. Patients were not eligible if they showed uncontrolled severe diseases; cardiovascular disease (uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled arrhythmia, and ischemic cardiac diseases in the last year); thromboembolic disease, coagulopathy, and preexisting bleeding diatheses; proteinuria >1 g/24 h urine; surgery within the previous 28 days before. Cumulative Index Rating Scale (CIRS) was used to evaluate the comorbidity status, and only patients with primary and intermediate CIRS stage were enrolled . Primary CIRS stage consisted of independent Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) and absent or mild grade comorbidities; intermediate CIRS stage consisted of dependent or independent IADL and less than 3 mild or moderate grade comorbidities. Patients with secondary CIRS stage, consisting of more than 3 comorbidities or a severe comorbidity, with or without dependent IADL, were not enrolled. The study was approved by the Local Ethical Committee (Comitato Etico, Azienda Sanitaria Locale n.4 L’Aquila, Regione Abruzzo, Italia) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients provided written, informed consent.
FIr-B/FOx regimen consisted of weekly timed flat-infusion/5-fluorouracil (TFI 5-FU) [30, 31], associated to weekly alternating CPT-11/BEV or OXP : TFI 5-FU (Fluorouracil Teva; Teva Italia, Milan, Italy), 900 mg/m2/day, over 12 h (from 10:00 pm to 10:00 am), days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 23; CPT-11 (Campto; Pfizer, Latina, Italy), 160 mg/m2, days 1, 15; BEV (Avastin; Roche, Welwyn Garden City, UK), 5 mg/kg, days 1, 15; l-OXP (Eloxatin; Sanofi-Aventis, Milan, Italy), 80 mg/m2, days 8, 22; cycles every 4 weeks.
3.2. Mutational Analysis
Genetic analyses were performed on paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from the primary tumor and/or metastases, as previously reported . Genotype status was assessed for KRAS codon 12, 13, and BRAF c.1799 T>A (V600E) mutations by SNaPshot multiplex assay in 17 samples, as elsewhere reported [32, 33]. Briefly, KRAS exon 2 and BRAF exon 15 were simultaneously PCR-amplified and analyzed for KRAS c.34G, c.35G, c.37G, c.38G, and BRAF c.1799T mutations using the ABI PRISM SNaPshot Multiplex kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). KRAS exon 2 direct sequencing was performed using the Big Dye V3.1 Terminator Kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Labelled products were separated in ABI Prism 3130xl Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) and analysed using the GeneMapper Analysis Software version 4.0 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA).
3.3. Study Design
Response was evaluated by computed tomography scan; positron emission tomography was added based on investigators’ assessment. Follow-up was scheduled every three months up to progression or death. Resectability, defined according to reported categories , was evaluated in patients with L-L metastases every three cycles by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of a medical oncologist, liver surgeon, and radiologist, and recommended >4 weeks after BEV discontinuation. Liver metastasectomies were defined as R0, if radical surgery, R1, if radioablation was added.
Toxicity was registered according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (version 3.0). Limiting toxicity (LT) was defined as grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity, grade 4 hematologic toxicity, febrile neutropenia, or any toxicity determining >2 weeks treatment delay. To discriminate individual safety, limiting toxicity syndromes (LTS), consisting of at least an LT associated or not to other limiting or G2 toxicities, were evaluated, as previously reported . LTS were classified as limiting toxicity syndromes single site (LTS-ss), characterized only by the LT, and limiting toxicity syndromes multiple sites (LTS-ms), ≥2 LTs or an LT associated to other, at least G2, non-limiting toxicities. Chi-square test was used to compared the rates of LTS-ms and LTS-ss .
Clinical criteria of activity and efficacy were ORR, PFS and OS. ORR was evaluated according to RECIST criteria ; pathologic complete response was defined as absence of residual cancer cells in surgically resected specimens. PFS and OS were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method . PFS was defined as the length of time from the beginning of treatment and disease progression or death (resulting from any cause) or to the last contact and OS as the length of time between the beginning of treatment and death or to last contact. Log-rank test was used to compare PFS and OS according to KRAS genotype and metastatic extension, L-L versus other or multiple metastatic (O/MM) .
4.1. Patient Demographics
From March 2006 to November 2011, 28 young-elderly patients were enrolled among overall MCRC patients (42%); 26 (93%) were evaluable for KRAS genotype, 13 wild-type, and 13 mutant (Table 1). Patients fitting for intensive FIr-B/FOx treatment, according to inclusion criteria, represented 44% of consecutively observed MCRC patients, and this rate was equivalent for fit young-elderly patients. Demographic and baseline features were representative of the overall phase II study population: WHO Performance Status 0, 25 (89%), CIRS primary/intermediate, 2/26. Liver metastases affected 17 patients (61%), L-L 8 patients (29%), and O/MM 20 patients (79%). KRAS mutations were not differently represented with respect to overall MCRC patients (see, Supplementary material Table 1 at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/143273, which describes KRAS mutations): c.35 G>A (G12D), 8 (30.7%); c.35 G>T (G12V), 3 (11.5%); c.35 G>C (G12A), 1; c.38 G>A (G13D), 1. Seventeen tumoral samples (65%) were also analyzed for BRAF, and no mutation was detected.
4.2. Activity and Efficacy
In the intent-to-treat analysis of 28 evaluable young-elderly patients, ORR was 79% ( 0.05, CI ± 15) (Table 2). We observed 22 objective responses: 19 partial (68%) and 3 clinical complete (CR 11%), 1 stable (4%), and 5 progressive diseases (18%). Disease control rate was 82% ( 0.05, CI ± 14). After a median follow-up of 17 months, median PFS was 11 months (3–78+). Median OS was 21 months (6–78+) (Figures 1(a) and 1(b)). Liver metastasectomies were performed in 5 pts (18%): 3 out of 8 L-L pts (37.5%). In one KRAS wild-type patient with single liver associated with lung metastases, double metastatic resections were performed. In one KRAS mutant patient with single liver associated with single lung metastasis, liver metastatic resection was performed, and a clinical CR of lung metastasis was obtained. Overall, R0 liver resections were 4 (80%) and R1 resection was 1 (20%). No surgery-related complications were reported. Overall, 3 clinical plus 2 pathologic CRs were reported (18%): 2 clinical CR in KRAS wild-type patients and 3 in KRAS mutant patients (1 clinical CR and 2 pathological CR). Pathologic CRs were obtained in 2 KRAS mutant patients, harboring c.35 G>T and c.35 G>A mutations, with multiple L-L metastases and single liver plus single lung metastases, respectively, who obtained a clinical partial response after treatment. One patient progressed at 17 months; 4 patients were progression-free at 78, 69, 49, and 10 months. Overall, 16 patients (57%) received a second line treatment: FIr-B/FOx rechallenge, 3 (19%); cetuximab-containing treatment, 9 (56%); BEV-containing, 1 (6%); panitumumab, 1 (6%); capecitabine, 1 (6%); surgery, 1 (6%). Most KRAS wild-type patients received a second line anti-EGFR-containing treatment (7 out of 9, 78%); BEV-containing, 1 (11%); surgery, 1 (11%). Seven patients (25%) received a third line treatment: cetuximab-containing treatment, 2 (28.5%); panitumumab, 3 (43%); capecitabine, 2 (28.5%). Three patients (11%) received a fourth line treatment: CPT-11, 1 (33%); raltitrexed, 1 (33%); capecitabine, 1 (33%). Three patients (11%) received treatment beyond the fourth line: fifth line cetuximab-containing treatment, 1 (33%), raltitrexed, 1 (33%); sixth line capecitabine, 1 (33%).
Among 13 KRAS wild-type patients, ORR was 92% ( 0.05, CI ± 15) (Table 2). We observed 12 objective responses: 10 partial (77%) and 2 CR (15%) and 1 progressive disease (8%). Liver metastasectomies were performed in 3 patients (23%), 2 out of 4 L-L (50%). Median PFS was 14 months (4–78+ months). Median OS was 38 months (8–78+ months). Among the 9 KRAS/BRAF wild-type patients, ORR was 89% ( 0.05, CI ± 22), median PFS was 11 months (4–49+ months), and median OS was 23 months (8–59 months). Among 13 KRAS mutant patients, ORR was 77% ( 0.05, CI ± 24). We observed 10 objective responses: 9 partial (69%) and 1 CR (8%), 1 stable (8%), and 2 progressive diseases (15%). Disease control rate was 85% ( 0.05, CI ± 20). Liver metastasectomies were performed in 2 patients (15%) out of 8 L-L (20%). Median PFS was 7 months (3–69+ months). Median OS was 19 months (6–69+ months). KRAS wild-type compared with mutant patients did not show significantly different PFS nor OS (Figures 1(c) and 1(d)).
4.3. Dose-Intensity and Toxicity
Median number of cycles per patient was 5 (range 2–9). Median received dose intensities (rDI) per cycle were equivalent to overall patients: 5-FU 1440 (480–1800) mg/m2/w, 80%; CPT-11 64 (25–80) mg/m2/w, 80%; l-OXP 32 (8–40) mg/m2/w, 80%; BEV 2 (1–2.5) mg/kg/w, 80% (see Supplementary material, Table 2, which describes rDI).
One patient (3.5%) discontinued FIr-B/FOx treatment due to limiting toxicity (grade 3 diarrhea). G3-4 toxicities, by patients, in 134 cycles, were (Table 3) diarrhea, 6 (21%); stomatitis/mucositis, 3 (11%); asthenia, 3 (11%); and neutropenia 3 (11%). The prevalent toxicity was diarrhea, G2-G3 in 14 patients (50%), similar to non-elderly . G2 toxicities were nausea 11 (39%), vomiting 3 (11%), diarrhea 8 (29%), asthenia 11 (39%), neurotoxicity 4 (14%), hypertension 3 (11%), and neutropenia 11 (39%). No cases of thrombosis, hemorrhage/bleeding, cardiac or cerebrovascular ischemia, G4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, severe thrombocytopenia, or toxic deaths were observed. LTS were observed in 13 out of 28 young-elderly patients (46%) (Table 4): LTS-ms, 11 pts (39%) and LTS-ss, 2 pts (7%). LTS-ms were characterized by: LT associated to other, at least G2, non-limiting toxicities, 9 pts (32%); and ≥2 LTs, 2 pts (7%). LTS were significantly represented by LTS-ms compared to LTS-ss (chi-square 3.832, ), with respect to non-elderly patients. LTS were (see Supplementary material, Table 3, which describes toxicities characterizing LTS in individual patients) G2-3 diarrhea-associated, 9 patients (69.2%), 8 LTS-ms and 1 LTS-ss; G3 mucositis associated with G3 erythema, 1; G3 stomatitis/mucositis and G2 asthenia, 1; G2 neutropenia for >2 weeks with G2 nausea, 1; and G3 asthenia, 1.
4.4. Activity and Efficacy according to KRAS Genotype and Extension of Metastatic Disease
Among 7 L-L patients, ORR was 86% ( 0.05, CI ± 28) (see Supplementary material, Table 4, which describes activity, efficacy, and effectiveness of FIr-B/FOx regimen according to KRAS genotype and extension of metastatic disease); 3 performed liver metastasectomies (43%) and 3 cCRs (43%) in patients who did not undergo liver surgery and showed PFS of 78+, 69+, and 49+ months; median PFS was 30 months (3–78+ months); median OS was not reached (20–78+ months) at a median follow-up of 49 months. Among 19 evaluable O/MM patients, ORR was 84% ( 0.05, CI ± 17); median PFS was 11 months (4–18 months); median OS was 19 months (6–59 months). Overall, clinical outcome (PFS and OS) in L-L compared to O/MM patients was significantly different (Figures 1(e) and 1(f)): among KRAS wild-type (see Supplementary material, Figure 1(a), which reports PFS and OS of KRAS wild-type patients, L-L versus O/MM), 0.058 for PFS and 0.035 for OS; among KRAS mutant (see Supplementary material, Figure 1(b), which reports PFS and OS of KRAS mutant patients, L-L versus O/MM), not significantly different.
First line medical treatment of MCRC patients consists of triplet regimens including chemotherapeutic drugs, or doublets plus BEV, or doublets plus EGFR-inhibitors in KRAS wild-type patients, showing ORR 39%–68%, PFS 7.2–10.6 months, and OS 19.9–26.1 months [2, 4, 7, 8]. Triplet FOLFOXIRI regimen gained ORR 60%, PFS 9.8 months, and OS 23.4 months, and recently showed 5 years-PFS 5% and 5 years-OS 15% . More intensive regimens, consisting of triplet chemotherapy plus targeted agents, can further increase activity, efficacy, and effectiveness of liver metastasectomies [1, 38, 39]. Phase II studies, by Masi et al. , and by our group , proposed BEV addition to triplet chemotherapy, according to FOLFOXIRI/BEV or FIr-B/FOx schedules, reaching ORR 77% and 82%, liver metastasectomies 40% and 54% in L-L disease, median PFS 13.1 and 12 months, and median OS 30.9 and 28 months. Present retrospective analysis showed that young-elderly patients represented 42% of MCRC patients treated with FIr-B/FOx intensive regimen, mainly characterised by performance status 0 (89%) and intermediate CIRS (93%) stage and confirmed high activity and efficacy (ORR 79%, PFS 11 months, and OS 21 months), as reported in overall MCRC patients .
Retrospective analysis of doublets CPT-11, or OXP, associated to 5-FU or capecitabine in older patients reported ORR 18–59.4%, PFS 4.9–10.0 months, and OS 8.5–20.7 months [13–20, 29, 40]. The addition of BEV to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in elderly patients significantly increased PFS 9.2-9.3 and OS 17.4–19.3 months [22, 23]. Triplet chemotherapy or doublet plus BEV obtained ORR 34.9-45.9%, PFS 7.9–9.3 months, and OS 17.4–20.5 months [23–25]. In the HORG-FOLFOXIRI trial, no different clinical outcome was observed in elderly patients; significantly lower PFS and OS were reported in patients with performance status 2 [28, 29]. Liver metastasectomies were reported in 1.3% and 4.2% patients treated with FOLFIRI and FOLFOXIRI, respectively,  and can achieve OS 43 months, not significantly different from younger patients . Morbidity and/or mortality after liver surgery were significantly higher in elderly patients (8%) . Our present retrospective data show that intensive FIr-B/FOx treatment of young-elderly MCRC patients, carefully selected according to comorbidity and functional status, may achieve increased activity and clinical outcome than that reported. The high activity is correlated with 18% liver resection rate, 37.5% in L-L patients, and 40% pathologic CR, without increased morbidity and/or mortality.
FOLFOXIRI plus BEV and FIr-B/FOx schedules may increase activity and efficacy in patients with KRAS wild-type and mutant genotypes [5, 38]. Median OS of patients treated with FIr-B/FOx was different in KRAS wild-type and mutant patients (38 months and 21 months, resp.), but not significantly different . Similarly, FIr-B/FOx clinical outcome was not significantly different according to KRAS genotype, in young-elderly patients. Our previous reports of significantly different clinical outcome of L-L compared to multiple metastatic disease , particularly in KRAS wild-type patients, while not in KRAS mutant , were confirmed in young-elderly patients and should be prospectively verified.
FIr-B/FOx in young-elderly patients was feasible at median rDI 80%. Cumulative G3-4 toxicities were prevalently represented by diarrhea (21%), stomatitis/mucositis (11%), asthenia (11%), and neutropenia (11%). Individual LTS were reported in 46% young elderly patients, mainly including diarrhea (69.2%), and significantly more represented by LTS-ms compared to LTS-ss (chi-square 3.832, ), with respect to non-elderly patients. Published studies showed that grade 3/4 toxicities were not significantly different in elderly patients treated with 5-FU or CPT-11 [14–16], slightly increased with FOLFOX , and significantly increased by capecitabine (40%), while not by the addition of OXP . Limiting diarrhea was significantly higher with FOLFIRI and FOLFOXIRI [28, 29]. Performance status 2 was significantly associated with increased grade 3/4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, diarrhea, and fatigue, compared with performance status 0-1 [28, 29, 40]. In elderly patients, BEV addition to chemotherapy was significantly associated with increased arterial thromboembolism , while not to other adverse events [22–25]. The present retrospective, exploratory analysis in a small cohort of MCRC patients, showed that intensive FIr-B/FOx schedule is equivalently safe and feasible, without severe adverse events related to BEV, in young-elderly patients, selected by favourable performance status and functional and comorbidity status, with a rate of LTS-ms significantly increased compared to LTS-ss, with respect to non-elderly patients. Young-elderly MCRC patients suitable for FIr-B/FOx intensive treatment should be carefully selected based on comorbidity and functional status and monitored for individual safety in clinical practice.
In fit young-elderly patients, FIr-B/FOx intensive regimen is safe, with toxicity characterized by LTS-ms, high activity, efficacy, and liver metastasectomies, particularly in L-L, KRAS wild-type, compared to O/MM. Present findings would be prospectively verified in a larger cohort of young-elderly MCRC patients.
Conflict of Interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Gemma Bruera is a Ph.D. student in Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, funded by the University of L’Aquila, Italy.
The authors thank Gino Coletti and Antonella Dal Mas, Pathology Department, S. Salvatore Hospital, L’Aquila, Italy, for collection and assembly of biological materials. They also thank Daniela Di Giacomo, Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy, for contribution to molecular genetic analysis.
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