Real-world overall survival of patients receiving cetuximab in later lines of treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

Plain language summary In this retrospective study, the authors examined baseline characteristics of and treatment duration and real-world overall survival (rwOS) in 1096 and 684 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving cetuximab as second-line (2L) and third-line (3L) treatment, respectively. The most common cetuximab-based regimens were cetuximab + folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan (2L: 44%; 3L: 32%) and cetuximab + irinotecan (2L: 28%; 3L: 35%). Median treatment duration and rwOS were 3.7 and 14.4 months, respectively, in patients receiving treatment in the 2L cohort. In the 3L cohort, median treatment duration was 3.3 months and rwOS was 12.0 months. This large real-world study provides evidence of rwOS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving cetuximab-based regimens as 2L or 3L treatment. Aim: To examine characteristics of and treatment duration and real-world overall survival (rwOS) in patients receiving cetuximab as second-line (2L) or third-line (3L) treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Materials & methods: This was a retrospective study of 1096 and 684 patients in 2L and 3L cohorts, respectively. Results: The most common cetuximab-based regimens were cetuximab + folinic acid, fluorouracil and irinotecan (2L: 44%; 3L: 32%) and cetuximab + irinotecan (2L: 28%; 3L: 35%). Kaplan-Meier survival estimates and stepwise Cox regression model analysis demonstrated median treatment duration and rwOS of 3.7 and 14.4 months, respectively, in patients receiving treatment in the 2L cohort. In the 3L cohort, treatment duration was 3.3 months and rwOS was 12.0 months. Conclusion: This large real-world study provides evidence of rwOS in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving cetuximab-based regimens as 2L or 3L treatment.