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. 2023 May 24;15(11):2900.
doi: 10.3390/cancers15112900.

The Effect of Induction Chemotherapy with VEGF Inhibition on Tumor Response in Synchronously Metastasized Potentially Resectable Colorectal Cancer

Rebecca Thonhauser  1 , Marcus Poglitsch  1 , Jan Philipp Jonas  1 , Yawen Dong  1 , Madita Tschögl  1 , Mariel Gramberger  1 , Mohamed Salem  1 , Jonas Santol  1 , Irmgard Brandl  2 , Martin Klimpfinger  2 , Constantin Vierziger  3 , Thomas Gruenberger  1
Affiliations

The Effect of Induction Chemotherapy with VEGF Inhibition on Tumor Response in Synchronously Metastasized Potentially Resectable Colorectal Cancer

Rebecca Thonhauser et al. Cancers (Basel). .

Abstract

(1) Background: The pathological tumor response of the primary tumor to induction chemotherapy in synchronously metastasized colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to compare patients treated with induction chemotherapy combined with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies. (2) Methods: We present a retrospective analysis, where we included 60 consecutive patients with potentially resectable synchronous mCRC who received induction chemotherapy combined with either VEGF or EGFR antibodies. The primary endpoint of this study was the regression of the primary tumor, which was assessed by the application of the histological regression score according to Rödel. The secondary endpoints were recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). (3) Results: A significantly better pathological response and a longer RFS for patients treated with the VEGF antibody therapy compared to those treated with the EGFR antibodies was demonstrated (p = 0.005 for the primary tumor and log-rank = 0.047 for RFS). The overall survival did not differ. The trial was registered with clinicaltrial.gov, number NCT05172635. (4) Conclusion: Induction chemotherapy combined with a VEGF antibody revealed a better pathological response of the primary tumor, leading to a better RFS compared to that with EGFR therapy; this has clinical relevance in patients with potentially resectable synchronously mCRC.

Keywords: colorectal cancer; synchronous liver metastases; targeted therapy; tumor regression grading.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Recurrence-free survival according to antibody therapy (log-rank, p = 0.047). Abbreviations: VEGF—vascular endothelial growth factor; EGFR—epidermal growth factor receptor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overall survival according to antibody therapy (log-rank, p = 0.066). Abbreviations: VEGF—vascular endothelial growth factor; EGFR—epidermal growth factor receptor.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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