Retrospective evaluation of FOLFIRI3 alone or in combination with bevacizumab or aflibercept in metastatic colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND The treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) relies of chemotherapy. The efficacy of the standard FOLFIRI-therapy could be improved by a modification of the regimen by splitting the dose of irinotecan on day 1 and day 3 in the FOLFIRI3 regimen. AIM To determine safety and efficacy of FOLFIRI3 regimen. METHODS This is a monocentric retrospective study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the FOLFIRI3 regimen given alone or in combination with bevacizumab or aflibercept in patients with previously treated mCRC. RESULTS One hundred and fifty-three consecutive patients were included (18 treated with FOLFIRI3, 99 with FOLFIRI3 plus bevacizumab and 36 with FOLFIRI3 plus aflibercept). The overall response rate (ORR) and disease control rate were 51% and 62%, respectively. Similar ORRs were observed in all 3 cohorts. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 3.9 mo (95% CI: 3.2-4.9) and 9.4 mo (95% CI: 6.6-12), respectively. Median PFS and OS values were improved in the FOLFIRI3 plus aflibercept group. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were diarrhoea (21.6%) and neutropenia (11.8%), and these toxicities were more frequent in the FOLFIRI3 plus aflibercept group. According to the multivariate Cox proportional model, previous surgery of metastasis and aflibercept were associated with outcomes. CONCLUSION The modification of the FOLFIRI regimen impacted treatment response of mCRC patients. The addition of an antiangiogenic agent, in particular aflibercept, enhanced the clinical benefit and improved survival.