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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Jan;37(1):35-46.
doi: 10.1007/s00384-021-04046-x. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tumour microsatellite-instability status as a predictor of response to fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer

Nikhil Aggarwal  1 , Alberto Quaglia  2   3 , Mark J W McPhail  4 , Kevin J Monahan  5   6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Systematic review and meta-analysis of tumour microsatellite-instability status as a predictor of response to fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer

Nikhil Aggarwal et al. Int J Colorectal Dis. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) can be classified according to the chromosomal-instability pathway (a microsatellite-stable (MSS) pathway) and the microsatellite-instability (MSI) pathway. Adjuvant therapy after surgery in advanced CRC is usually based on fluoropyrimidine 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone or combined with other agents. Controversy however remains on the use of 5-FU-based regimens in treating MSI-related tumours.

Aims: To systematically investigate the relationship between tumour microsatellite profile and 5-year overall survival in patients with CRC treated with 5-FU.

Methods: A systematic literature review of PubMed and Embase databases was conducted. Pre-specified criteria determined study inclusion/exclusion. The PRISMA and QUADAS-2 criteria were used to assess study suitability and quality respectively. Patients were categorised as having either MSI or MSS CRC. Overall 5-year survival was estimated from Kaplan-Meier curves. Publication bias was assessed using funnel-plots and Egger's test.

Results: 1807 studies were identified, with meta-analysis performed using nine studies. 5-FU treated individuals with CRC who died at 5 years were found to be 0.31 times less likely to have MSI than those who were alive, although this was not statistically significant. There was an insufficient number of studies to enable subgroup analysis by stage.

Conclusions: In this meta-analysis, MSI status does not alter 5-year survival of patients with CRC patients treated with adjuvant 5-FU, however there is significant heterogeneity in the design of individual studies in the data synthesis. More studies are necessary to clarify whether CRC patients with MSI CRC, in particular early stage, should be offered 5-FU based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Colorectal cancer; Gastroenterology; Genetics; Oncology.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart showing selection process for studies
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of MSI vs. MSS in 5-FU treated CRC patients
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Funnel plot of studies
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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