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Clinical Trial
. 2021 Dec 1;156(12):1093-1101.
doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2021.4992.

Sixty-Day Mortality of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Randomized to Systemic Treatment vs Primary Tumor Resection Followed by Systemic Treatment: The CAIRO4 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial

Dave E W van der Kruijssen  1 , Sjoerd G Elias  2 , Geraldine R Vink  1   3 , Karlijn L van Rooijen  1 , Jorine 't Lam-Boer  4 , Linda Mol  5 , Cornelis J A Punt  2 , Johannes H W de Wilt  4 , Miriam Koopman  1 ; CAIRO4 Working Group
Collaborators, Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Sixty-Day Mortality of Patients With Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Randomized to Systemic Treatment vs Primary Tumor Resection Followed by Systemic Treatment: The CAIRO4 Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial

Dave E W van der Kruijssen et al. JAMA Surg. .

Abstract

Importance: The role of primary tumor resection (PTR) in synchronous patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had unresectable metastases and few or absent symptoms of their primary tumor is unclear. Studying subgroups with low postoperative mortality may identify patients who potentially benefit from PTR.

Objective: To determine the difference in 60-day mortality between patients randomized to systemic treatment only vs PTR followed by systemic treatment, and to explore risk factors associated with 60-day mortality.

Design, setting, and participants: CAIRO4 is a randomized phase 3 trial initiated in 2012 in which patients with mCRC were randomized to systemic treatment only or PTR followed by systemic treatment with palliative intent. This multicenter study was conducted by the Danish and Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group in general and academic hospitals in Denmark and the Netherlands. Patients included between August 2012 and December 2019 with histologically proven colorectal cancer, unresectable metastases, and a primary tumor with few or absent symptoms were eligible.

Interventions: Systemic treatment, consisting of fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab vs PTR followed by fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy with bevacizumab.

Main outcomes and measures: The aim of the current analysis was to compare 60-day mortality rates in both treatment arms. A secondary aim was the identification of risk factors for 60-day mortality in the treatment arms. These aims were not predefined in the study protocol.

Results: A total of 196 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analysis (112 [57%] men; median [IQR] age, 65 [59-70] years). Sixty-day mortality was 3% (95% CI, 1%-9%) in the systemic treatment arm and 11% (95% CI, 6%-19%) in the PTR arm (P = .03). In a per-protocol analysis, 60-day mortality was 2% (95% CI, 1%-7%) vs 10% (95% CI, 5%-18%; P = .048). Patients with elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and/or neutrophils who were randomized to PTR had a significantly higher 60-day mortality than patients without these characteristics.

Conclusions and relevance: Patients with mCRC who were randomized to PTR followed by systemic treatment had a higher 60-day mortality than patients randomized to systemic treatment. Especially patients randomized to the PTR arm with elevated serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase, neutrophils, aspartate aminotransferase, and/or alanine aminotransferase were at high risk of postoperative mortality. Final study results on overall survival have to be awaited.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01606098.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr van der Kruijssen reported a grant from Dutch Cancer Society and an unrestricted grant from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd during the conduct of the study. Dr Vink reported grants from Servier, Merck, Pierre Fabre, Sirtex, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Bayer and nonfinancial support from PGDx outside the submitted work. Dr de Wilt reported a grant from Dutch Cancer Society and an unrestricted grant from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd during the conduct of the study and grants from Dutch Cancer Society, Bergh in het Zadel Foundation, ZonMw, and Medtronic outside the submitted work. Dr Koopman reported a grant from Dutch Cancer Society and an unrestricted grant from Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd during the conduct of the study; grants from Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Merck, Servier, and Pierre Fabre paid to their institution outside the submitted work; and paid advisory roles for Nordic Pharma, Merck Serono, Pierre Fabre, Servier, and MSD outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Flowchart
PTR indicates primary tumor resection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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