Efficacy, safety and quality-of-life data from patients with pre-treated metastatic colorectal cancer receiving trifluridine/tipiracil: results of the TALLISUR trial

Introduction: Trifluridine/tipiracil (FTD/TPI) improved both overall and progression-free survival (OS, PFS) of patients with pre-treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the pivotal phase III RECOURSE trial. However, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was not assessed directly. To this end and to generate post-authorisation data, the TALLISUR trial was conducted.

Methods: In this prospective, multi-centre, Germany-wide, phase IV study, patients with pre-treated mCRC were given the choice to receive either FTD/TPI or best supportive care (BSC). A validated questionnaire, EORTC QLQ-C30, was employed to assess HRQoL. Secondary endpoints included OS, PFS and safety.

Results: Of 194 eligible patients, 185 decided to receive FTD/TPI and 9 to receive BSC. The low number of patients in the BSC-arm did not allow statistically meaningful analyses. On the other hand, treatment with FTD/TPI was associated with maintained HRQoL. Median OS was 6.9 months [95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1-8.2 months] and median PFS was 2.5 months (95% CI 2.1-2.9 months). The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were neutropenia (27.6%) and anaemia (22.7%). Febrile neutropenia occurred in 1.1%.

Conclusions: Treatment of patients suffering from pre-treated mCRC with FTD/TPI was associated not only with prolonged survival and delayed progression but also with maintained HRQoL.