Does microsatellite instability predict the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer? A systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: Microsatellite instability (MSI) status in predicting the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer remains controversial.

Materials and methods: Studies were identified through PubMed, Embase and ASCO proceedings with a combination of keywords (colorectal cancer, chemotherapy and MSI).

Results: A MA was performed for treated and non-treated MSI population on seven studies. Statistical calculations were performed on 7 studies representing 3690 patients; mean age: 65.5 years; 810 stage II and 2444 stage III (75%). MSI-high (MSI-H) was found in 454 patients (14% of the global population), and microsatellite stable (MSS) in 2871. A total of 1444 patients received 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based chemotherapy, whereas 1518 patients did not. For MSI-H patients, there was no statistically significant difference for RFS whether or not they received chemotherapy (5 studies); HR RFS: 0.96 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62-1.49); HR OS (6 studies): 0.70 (95% CI: 0.44-1.09; p=0.12). Elsewhere, we found a significant interaction between MSI status (MSI-H or MSS) and therapeutic status suggesting a lesser benefit for MSI-H than for MSS patients (HR interaction RFS: 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67-0.87)).

Conclusion: We found similar RFS for treated and untreated MSI-H patients, showing that MSI-H status, in addition to being a good prognostic factor is also a predictive factor of non response.