Colon Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version

General Information About Colon Cancer

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Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of patients. However, recurrence following surgery is a major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death.

Incidence and Mortality

Estimated new cases and deaths from colon and rectal cancer in the United States in 2024:[1]

  • New cases of colon cancer: 106,590.
  • New cases of rectal cancer: 46,220.
  • Deaths: 53,010 (colon and rectal cancers combined).

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors can occur in the colon. For more information, see Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors Treatment.

Anatomy

EnlargeGastrointestinal (digestive) system anatomy; drawing shows the esophagus, liver, stomach, colon, small intestine, rectum, and anus.
Anatomy of the lower gastrointestinal (digestive) system.

Risk Factors

Increasing age is the most important risk factor for most cancers. Other risk factors for colorectal cancer include the following:

  • Family history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relative.[2]
  • Personal history of colorectal adenomas, colorectal cancer, or ovarian cancer.[3-5]
  • Hereditary conditions, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer [HNPCC]).[6]
  • Personal history of long-standing chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn colitis.[7]
  • Excessive alcohol use.[8]
  • Cigarette smoking.[9]
  • Race and ethnicity: African American.[10,11]
  • Obesity.[12]

Screening

Screening for colon cancer should be a part of routine care for all adults aged 50 years and older, especially for those with first-degree relatives with colorectal cancer. This recommendation is based on the frequency of the disease, ability to identify high-risk groups, slow growth of primary lesions, better survival of patients with early-stage lesions, and relative simplicity and accuracy of screening tests. For more information, see Colorectal Cancer Screening.

Prognostic Factors

The prognosis of patients with colon cancer is clearly related to:

  • The degree of penetration of the tumor through the bowel wall.
  • The presence or absence of nodal involvement.
  • The presence or absence of distant metastases.

These three characteristics form the basis for all staging systems developed for this disease.

Other prognostic factors for colon cancer include:

  • Bowel obstruction and bowel perforation are indicators of poor prognosis.[13]
  • Elevated pretreatment serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have a negative prognostic significance.[14]

Many other prognostic markers have been evaluated retrospectively for patients with colon cancer, though most, including allelic loss of chromosome 18q or thymidylate synthase expression, have not been prospectively validated.[15-24] Microsatellite instability, also associated with HNPCC, has been associated with improved survival independent of tumor stage in a population-based series of 607 patients younger than 50 years with colorectal cancer.[25] Patients with HNPCC reportedly have better prognoses in stage-stratified survival analysis than patients with sporadic colorectal cancer, but the retrospective nature of the studies and possibility of selection factors make this observation difficult to interpret.[26]

Treatment decisions depend on factors such as physician and patient preferences and the stage of the disease, rather than the age of the patient.[27-29]

Racial differences in overall survival (OS) after adjuvant therapy have been observed, without differences in disease-free survival, suggesting that comorbid conditions play a role in survival outcome in different patient populations.[30]

Follow-Up and Survivorship

Limited data and no high-level evidence are available to guide patients and physicians about surveillance and management of patients after surgical resection and adjuvant therapy. The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommend specific surveillance and follow-up strategies.[31,32]

Following treatment of colon cancer, periodic evaluations may lead to the earlier identification and management of recurrent disease.[33-36] This monitoring has limited effect on overall mortality, as few localized, potentially curable metastases are found in patients with recurrent colon cancer. To date, no large-scale randomized trials have documented an OS benefit for standard, postoperative monitoring programs.[37-41]

CEA is a serum glycoprotein frequently used in the management of patients with colon cancer. A review of the use of this tumor marker suggests:[42]

  • A CEA level is not a valuable screening test for colorectal cancer because of the large number of false-positive and false-negative reports.
  • Postoperative CEA testing should be restricted to patients who would be candidates for resection of liver or lung metastases.
  • Routine use of CEA levels alone for monitoring response to treatment is not recommended.

The optimal regimen and frequency of follow-up examinations are not well defined because the impact on patient survival is not clear and the quality of data is poor.[39-41]

Factors Associated With Recurrence

Diet and exercise

Although cohort studies have suggested that a diet or exercise regimen may improve outcomes, no prospective randomized trials have confirmed these findings. The cohort studies contained multiple opportunities for unintended bias, and caution is needed when using the data from them.

Two prospective observational studies were performed with patients enrolled in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B CALGB-89803 trial (NCT00003835), an adjuvant chemotherapy trial for patients with stage III colon cancer.[43,44] In this trial, patients in the lowest quintile of the Western dietary pattern, compared with those patients in the highest quintile, experienced an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for disease-free survival of 3.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04–5.19; P < .001) and an OS of 2.32 (95% CI, 1.36–3.96; P < .001). Additionally, stage III colon cancer patients in the highest quintile of dietary glycemic load experienced an adjusted HR for OS of 1.76 (95% CI, 1.22–2.54; P < .001), compared with those in the lowest quintile. Subsequently, in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, among 2,315 participants diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the degree of red and processed meat intake before diagnosis was associated with a higher risk of death (relative risk [RR], 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05–1.59; P = .03), but red meat consumption after diagnosis was not associated with overall mortality.[45][Level of evidence C1]

A meta-analysis of seven prospective cohort studies evaluating physical activity before and after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer demonstrated that patients who participated in any amount of physical activity before diagnosis had an RR of 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65–0.87; P < .001) for colorectal cancer-specific mortality, compared with patients who did not participate in any physical activity.[46] Patients who participated in a high amount of physical activity (vs. a low amount) before diagnosis had an RR of 0.70 (95% CI, 0.56–0.87; P = .002). Patients who participated in any physical activity (compared with no activity) after diagnosis had an RR of 0.74 (95% CI, 0.58–0.95; P = .02) for colorectal cancer-specific mortality. Those who participated in a high amount of physical activity (vs. a low amount) after diagnosis had an RR of 0.65 (95% CI, 0.47–0.92; P = .01).[46][Level of evidence C1]

Aspirin

A prospective cohort study examined the use of aspirin after a colorectal cancer diagnosis.[47] Regular users of aspirin after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer experienced an HRcolon cancer–specific mortality of 0.71 (95% CI, 0.53–0.95) and an HRoverall mortality of 0.79 (95% CI, 0.65–0.97).[47][Level of evidence C1] One study evaluated 964 patients with rectal or colon cancer from the Nurse’s Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.[48] Among patients with PI3K-mutant colorectal cancer, regular use of aspirin was associated with an HRdeath from any cause of 0.54 (95% CI, 0.31–0.94; P = .01)[48][Level of evidence C1]

References
  1. American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts and Figures 2024. American Cancer Society, 2024. Available online. Last accessed June 21, 2024.
  2. Johns LE, Houlston RS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of familial colorectal cancer risk. Am J Gastroenterol 96 (10): 2992-3003, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Imperiale TF, Juluri R, Sherer EA, et al.: A risk index for advanced neoplasia on the second surveillance colonoscopy in patients with previous adenomatous polyps. Gastrointest Endosc 80 (3): 471-8, 2014. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Singh H, Nugent Z, Demers A, et al.: Risk of colorectal cancer after diagnosis of endometrial cancer: a population-based study. J Clin Oncol 31 (16): 2010-5, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Srinivasan R, Yang YX, Rubin SC, et al.: Risk of colorectal cancer in women with a prior diagnosis of gynecologic malignancy. J Clin Gastroenterol 41 (3): 291-6, 2007. [PUBMED Abstract]
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  10. Laiyemo AO, Doubeni C, Pinsky PF, et al.: Race and colorectal cancer disparities: health-care utilization vs different cancer susceptibilities. J Natl Cancer Inst 102 (8): 538-46, 2010. [PUBMED Abstract]
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  17. Lanza G, Matteuzzi M, Gafá R, et al.: Chromosome 18q allelic loss and prognosis in stage II and III colon cancer. Int J Cancer 79 (4): 390-5, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  18. Griffin MR, Bergstralh EJ, Coffey RJ, et al.: Predictors of survival after curative resection of carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Cancer 60 (9): 2318-24, 1987. [PUBMED Abstract]
  19. Johnston PG, Fisher ER, Rockette HE, et al.: The role of thymidylate synthase expression in prognosis and outcome of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with rectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 12 (12): 2640-7, 1994. [PUBMED Abstract]
  20. Shibata D, Reale MA, Lavin P, et al.: The DCC protein and prognosis in colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 335 (23): 1727-32, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  21. Bauer KD, Lincoln ST, Vera-Roman JM, et al.: Prognostic implications of proliferative activity and DNA aneuploidy in colonic adenocarcinomas. Lab Invest 57 (3): 329-35, 1987. [PUBMED Abstract]
  22. Bauer KD, Bagwell CB, Giaretti W, et al.: Consensus review of the clinical utility of DNA flow cytometry in colorectal cancer. Cytometry 14 (5): 486-91, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  23. Sun XF, Carstensen JM, Zhang H, et al.: Prognostic significance of cytoplasmic p53 oncoprotein in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Lancet 340 (8832): 1369-73, 1992. [PUBMED Abstract]
  24. Roth JA: p53 prognostication: paradigm or paradox? Clin Cancer Res 5 (11): 3345, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  25. Gryfe R, Kim H, Hsieh ET, et al.: Tumor microsatellite instability and clinical outcome in young patients with colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 342 (2): 69-77, 2000. [PUBMED Abstract]
  26. Watson P, Lin KM, Rodriguez-Bigas MA, et al.: Colorectal carcinoma survival among hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma family members. Cancer 83 (2): 259-66, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  27. Iwashyna TJ, Lamont EB: Effectiveness of adjuvant fluorouracil in clinical practice: a population-based cohort study of elderly patients with stage III colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 20 (19): 3992-8, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  28. Chiara S, Nobile MT, Vincenti M, et al.: Advanced colorectal cancer in the elderly: results of consecutive trials with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 42 (4): 336-40, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  29. Popescu RA, Norman A, Ross PJ, et al.: Adjuvant or palliative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer in patients 70 years or older. J Clin Oncol 17 (8): 2412-8, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  30. Dignam JJ, Colangelo L, Tian W, et al.: Outcomes among African-Americans and Caucasians in colon cancer adjuvant therapy trials: findings from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project. J Natl Cancer Inst 91 (22): 1933-40, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  31. Meyerhardt JA, Mangu PB, Flynn PJ, et al.: Follow-up care, surveillance protocol, and secondary prevention measures for survivors of colorectal cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology clinical practice guideline endorsement. J Clin Oncol 31 (35): 4465-70, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
  32. Benson AB, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, et al.: Localized colon cancer, version 3.2013: featured updates to the NCCN Guidelines. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 11 (5): 519-28, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
  33. Martin EW, Minton JP, Carey LC: CEA-directed second-look surgery in the asymptomatic patient after primary resection of colorectal carcinoma. Ann Surg 202 (3): 310-7, 1985. [PUBMED Abstract]
  34. Bruinvels DJ, Stiggelbout AM, Kievit J, et al.: Follow-up of patients with colorectal cancer. A meta-analysis. Ann Surg 219 (2): 174-82, 1994. [PUBMED Abstract]
  35. Lautenbach E, Forde KA, Neugut AI: Benefits of colonoscopic surveillance after curative resection of colorectal cancer. Ann Surg 220 (2): 206-11, 1994. [PUBMED Abstract]
  36. Khoury DA, Opelka FG, Beck DE, et al.: Colon surveillance after colorectal cancer surgery. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (3): 252-6, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  37. Safi F, Link KH, Beger HG: Is follow-up of colorectal cancer patients worthwhile? Dis Colon Rectum 36 (7): 636-43; discussion 643-4, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  38. Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Macdonald JS, et al.: An evaluation of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) test for monitoring patients with resected colon cancer. JAMA 270 (8): 943-7, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  39. Rosen M, Chan L, Beart RW, et al.: Follow-up of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis. Dis Colon Rectum 41 (9): 1116-26, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  40. Desch CE, Benson AB, Smith TJ, et al.: Recommended colorectal cancer surveillance guidelines by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol 17 (4): 1312, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  41. Benson AB, Desch CE, Flynn PJ, et al.: 2000 update of American Society of Clinical Oncology colorectal cancer surveillance guidelines. J Clin Oncol 18 (20): 3586-8, 2000. [PUBMED Abstract]
  42. Clinical practice guidelines for the use of tumor markers in breast and colorectal cancer. Adopted on May 17, 1996 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology. J Clin Oncol 14 (10): 2843-77, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  43. Meyerhardt JA, Niedzwiecki D, Hollis D, et al.: Association of dietary patterns with cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer. JAMA 298 (7): 754-64, 2007. [PUBMED Abstract]
  44. Meyerhardt JA, Sato K, Niedzwiecki D, et al.: Dietary glycemic load and cancer recurrence and survival in patients with stage III colon cancer: findings from CALGB 89803. J Natl Cancer Inst 104 (22): 1702-11, 2012. [PUBMED Abstract]
  45. McCullough ML, Gapstur SM, Shah R, et al.: Association between red and processed meat intake and mortality among colorectal cancer survivors. J Clin Oncol 31 (22): 2773-82, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
  46. Je Y, Jeon JY, Giovannucci EL, et al.: Association between physical activity and mortality in colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer 133 (8): 1905-13, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
  47. Chan AT, Ogino S, Fuchs CS: Aspirin use and survival after diagnosis of colorectal cancer. JAMA 302 (6): 649-58, 2009. [PUBMED Abstract]
  48. Liao X, Lochhead P, Nishihara R, et al.: Aspirin use, tumor PIK3CA mutation, and colorectal-cancer survival. N Engl J Med 367 (17): 1596-606, 2012. [PUBMED Abstract]

Cellular Classification of Colon Cancer

Histological types of colon cancer include:

  • Adenocarcinoma (most colon cancers).
    • Mucinous (colloid) adenocarcinoma.
    • Signet ring adenocarcinoma.
  • Scirrhous tumors.
  • Neuroendocrine.[1] Tumors with neuroendocrine differentiation typically have a poorer prognosis than pure adenocarcinoma variants.
References
  1. Saclarides TJ, Szeluga D, Staren ED: Neuroendocrine cancers of the colon and rectum. Results of a ten-year experience. Dis Colon Rectum 37 (7): 635-42, 1994. [PUBMED Abstract]

Stage Information for Colon Cancer

Treatment decisions can be made with reference to the TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) classification [1] rather than to the older Dukes or the Modified Astler-Coller classification schema.

The AJCC and a National Cancer Institute–sponsored panel recommended that at least 12 lymph nodes be examined in patients with colon and rectal cancer to confirm the absence of nodal involvement by tumor.[1-3] This recommendation takes into consideration that the number of lymph nodes examined is a reflection of the aggressiveness of lymphovascular mesenteric dissection at the time of surgical resection and the pathological identification of nodes in the specimen. Retrospective studies demonstrated that the number of lymph nodes examined in colon and rectal surgery may be associated with patient outcome.[4-7]

AJCC Stage Groupings and TNM Definitions

The AJCC has designated staging by TNM classification to define colon cancer.[1] The same classification is used for both clinical and pathological staging.[1]

Table 1. Definitions of TNM Stage 0a
StageTNMb,cDescription Illustration
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp 251–74.
The explanations for superscripts b and c are at the end of Table 5.
0Tis, N0, M0Tis = Carcinoma in situ, intramucosal carcinoma (involvement of lamina propria with no extension through muscularis mucosae).
EnlargeStage 0 colorectal carcinoma in situ; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum. An inset shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall with abnormal cells in the mucosa layer. Also shown are the submucosa, muscle layers, serosa, a blood vessel, and lymph nodes.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
Table 2. Definitions of TNM Stage Ia
StageTNMb,cDescriptionIllustration
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp 251–74.
The explanations for superscripts b and c are at the end of Table 5.
IT1, T2, N0, M0T1 = Tumor invades the submucosa (through the muscularis mucosa but not into the muscularis propria).
EnlargeStage I colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum. An inset shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall with cancer in the mucosa and submucosa. Also shown are the muscle layers, serosa, a blood vessel, and lymph nodes.
T2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
Table 3. Definitions of TNM Stages IIA, IIB, and IICa
StageTNMb,cDescriptionIllustration
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp 251–74.
The explanations for superscripts b and c are at the end of Table 5.
IIAT3, N0, M0T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
EnlargeStage II colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a three-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. The first panel shows stage IIA with cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. The second panel shows stage IIB with cancer in all layers and spreading through the serosa to the visceral peritoneum. The third panel shows stage IIC with cancer in all layers and spreading through the serosa to nearby organs.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
IIBT4a, N0, M0T4a = Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum).
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
IICT4b, N0, M0T4b = Tumor directly invades or adheres to adjacent organs or structures.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
Table 4. Definitions of TNM Stages IIIA, IIIB, and IIICa
StageTNMb,cDescription Illustration
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp 251–74.
The explanations for superscripts b and c are at the end of Table 5.
IIIAT1, N2a, M0T1 = Tumor invades the submucosa (through the muscularis mucosa but not into the muscularis propria).
EnlargeStage IIIA colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a two-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. The first panel shows cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers and in 2 lymph nodes. The second panel shows cancer in the mucosa and submucosa and in 5 lymph nodes.
N2a = Four to six regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
T1–2, N1/N1c, M0T1 = Tumor invades the submucosa (through the muscularis mucosa but not into the muscularis propria).
T2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
N1 = One to three regional lymph nodes are positive (tumor in lymph nodes measuring ≥0.2 mm), or any number of tumor deposits are present and all identifiable lymph nodes are negative.
–N1c = No regional lymph nodes are positive, but there are tumor deposits in the subserosa, mesentery, or nonperitonealized pericolic, or perirectal/mesorectal tissues.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
IIIBT1–T2, N2b, M0T1 = Tumor invades the submucosa (through the muscularis mucosa but not into the muscularis propria).
EnlargeStage IIIB colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a three-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. The first panel shows cancer in all layers, in 3 nearby lymph nodes, and in the visceral peritoneum. The second panel shows cancer in all layers and in 5 nearby lymph nodes. The third panel shows cancer in the mucosa, submucosa, and muscle layers and in 7 nearby lymph nodes.
T2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
N2b = Seven or more regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
T2–T3, N2a, M0T2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
N2a = Four to six regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
T3–T4a, N1/N1c, M0T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
T4 = Tumor invades the visceral peritoneum or invades or adheres to adjacent organ or structure.
–T4a = Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum).
N1 = One to three regional lymph nodes are positive (tumor in lymph nodes measuring ≥0.2 mm), or any number of tumor deposits are present and all identifiable lymph nodes are negative.
–N1c = No regional lymph nodes are positive, but there are tumor deposits in the subserosa, mesentery, or nonperitonealized pericolic, or perirectal/mesorectal tissues.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
IIICT3–T4a, N2b, M0T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
EnlargeStage IIIC colorectal cancer; drawing shows a cross-section of the colon/rectum and a three-panel inset. Each panel shows the layers of the colon/rectum wall: the mucosa, submucosa, muscle layers, and serosa. Also shown are a blood vessel and lymph nodes. The first panel shows cancer in all layers, in 4 lymph nodes, and in the visceral peritoneum. The second panel shows cancer in all layers and in 7 lymph nodes. The third panel shows cancer in all layers, in 2 lymph nodes, and spreading to nearby organs.
T4 = Tumor invades the visceral peritoneum or invades or adheres to adjacent organ or structure.
–T4a = Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum).
N2b = Seven or more regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
T4a, N2a, M0T4a = Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum).
N2a = Four to six regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
T4b, N1–N2, M0T4b = Tumor directly invades or adheres to adjacent organs or structures.
N1 = One to three regional lymph nodes are positive (tumor in lymph nodes measuring ≥0.2 mm), or any number of tumor deposits are present and all identifiable lymph nodes are negative.
–N1a = One regional lymph node is positive.
–N1b = Two or three regional lymph nodes are positive.
–N1c = No regional lymph nodes are positive, but there are tumor deposits in the subserosa, mesentery, or nonperitonealized pericolic, or perirectal/mesorectal tissues.
N2 = Four or more regional nodes are positive.
–N2a = Four to six regional lymph nodes are positive.
–N2b = Seven or more regional lymph nodes are positive.
M0 = No distant metastasis by imaging, etc.; no evidence of tumor in distant sites or organs. (This category is not assigned by pathologists.)
Table 5. Definitions of TNM Stages IVA, IVB, and IVCa
StageTNMb,cDefinitionIllustration
T = primary tumor; N = regional lymph nodes; M = distant metastasis.
aReprinted with permission from AJCC: Colon and rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp 251–74.
bDirect invasion in T4 includes invasion of other organs or other segments of the colorectum as a result of direct extension through the serosa, as confirmed on microscopic examination (e.g., invasion of the sigmoid colon by a carcinoma of the cecum) or, for cancers in a retroperitoneal or subperitoneal location, direct invasion of other organs or structures by virtue of extension beyond the muscularis propria (i.e., respectively, a tumor on the posterior wall of the descending colon invading the left kidney or lateral abdominal wall; or a mid or distal rectal cancer with invasion of prostate, seminal vesicles, cervix, or vagina).
cTumor that is adherent to other organs or structures, grossly, is classified cT4b. However, if no tumor is present in the adhesion, microscopically, the classification should be pT1-4a depending on the anatomical depth of wall invasion. The V and L classification should be used to identify the presence or absence of vascular or lymphatic invasion whereas the PN prognostic factor should be used for perineural invasion.
IVAAny T, Any N, M1aTX = Primary tumor cannot be assessed.
EnlargeStage IV colon cancer; drawing shows other parts of the body where colon cancer may spread, including the distant lymph nodes, lung, liver, and abdominal wall. An inset shows cancer cells spreading from the colon, through the blood and lymph system, to another part of the body where metastatic cancer has formed.
T0 = No evidence of primary tumor.
Tis = Carcinoma in situ, intramucosal carcinoma (involvement of lamina propria with no extension through muscularis mucosae).
T1 = Tumor invades the submucosa (through the muscularis mucosa but not into the muscularis propria).
T2 = Tumor invades the muscularis propria.
T3 = Tumor invades through the muscularis propria into pericolorectal tissues.
T4 = Tumor invades the visceral peritoneum or invades or adheres to adjacent organ or structure.
–T4a = Tumor invades through the visceral peritoneum (including gross perforation of the bowel through tumor and continuous invasion of tumor through areas of inflammation to the surface of the visceral peritoneum).
–T4b = Tumor directly invades or adheres to adjacent organs or structures.
NX = Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed.
N0 = No regional lymph node metastasis.
N1 = One to three regional lymph nodes are positive (tumor in lymph nodes measuring ≥0.2 mm), or any number of tumor deposits are present and all identifiable lymph nodes are negative.
–N1a = One regional lymph node is positive.
–N1b = Two or three regional lymph nodes are positive.
–N1c = No regional lymph nodes are positive, but there are tumor deposits in the subserosa, mesentery, or nonperitonealized pericolic, or perirectal/mesorectal tissues.
N2 = Four or more regional nodes are positive.
–N2a = Four to six regional lymph nodes are positive.
–N2b = Seven or more regional lymph nodes are positive.
M1a = Metastasis to one site or organ is identified without peritoneal metastasis.
IVBAny T, Any N, M1bAny T = See T descriptions above in Any T, Any N, M1a TNM stage group.
Any N = See N descriptions above in Any T, Any N1, M1a TNM stage group.
M1b = Metastasis to two or more sites or organs is identified without peritoneal metastasis.
IVCAny T, Any N, M1cAny T = See T descriptions above in Any T, Any N, M1a TNM stage group.
Any N = See N descriptions above in Any T, Any N1, M1a TNM stage group.
M1c = Metastasis to the peritoneal surface is identified alone or with other site or organ metastases.
References
  1. Jessup J, Benson A, Chen V: Colon and Rectum. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. Springer; 2017, pp 251–74.
  2. Compton CC, Greene FL: The staging of colorectal cancer: 2004 and beyond. CA Cancer J Clin 54 (6): 295-308, 2004 Nov-Dec. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Nelson H, Petrelli N, Carlin A, et al.: Guidelines 2000 for colon and rectal cancer surgery. J Natl Cancer Inst 93 (8): 583-96, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Swanson RS, Compton CC, Stewart AK, et al.: The prognosis of T3N0 colon cancer is dependent on the number of lymph nodes examined. Ann Surg Oncol 10 (1): 65-71, 2003 Jan-Feb. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Le Voyer TE, Sigurdson ER, Hanlon AL, et al.: Colon cancer survival is associated with increasing number of lymph nodes analyzed: a secondary survey of intergroup trial INT-0089. J Clin Oncol 21 (15): 2912-9, 2003. [PUBMED Abstract]
  6. Prandi M, Lionetto R, Bini A, et al.: Prognostic evaluation of stage B colon cancer patients is improved by an adequate lymphadenectomy: results of a secondary analysis of a large scale adjuvant trial. Ann Surg 235 (4): 458-63, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  7. Tepper JE, O'Connell MJ, Niedzwiecki D, et al.: Impact of number of nodes retrieved on outcome in patients with rectal cancer. J Clin Oncol 19 (1): 157-63, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]

Treatment Option Overview for Colon Cancer

Table 6. Treatment Options for Colon Cancer
Stage (TNM Staging Criteria)Treatment Options
Stage 0 Colon CancerSurgery
Stage I Colon CancerSurgery
Stage II Colon CancerSurgery
Adjuvant chemotherapy (under clinical evaluation)
Stage III Colon CancerSurgery
Clinical trials
Liver MetastasisSurgery
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Local ablation
Adjuvant chemotherapy
Intra-arterial chemotherapy
Clinical trials
Stage IV and Recurrent Colon Cancer Surgery
Systemic therapy
Immunotherapy
Clinical trials

Primary Surgical Therapy

Standard treatment for patients with colon cancer has been open surgical resection of the primary and regional lymph nodes for localized disease.

The role of laparoscopic techniques [1-4] in the treatment of colon cancer has been examined in two studies.

Evidence (laparoscopic techniques):

  1. A multicenter, prospective, randomized, noninferiority trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) compared laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy in 872 patients.
    • At a median follow-up of 4.4 years, 3-year recurrence rates (16% LAC vs. 18% open colectomy; hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence, 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63–1.17; P = .32) and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates (86% LAC vs. 85% open colectomy; HRdeath in LAC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.68–1.21; P = .51) were similar in both groups for all stages of disease evaluated. Tumor recurrence in surgical incisions was less than 1% for both groups.[5][Level of evidence A1]
    • Decreased hospital stay (5 days LAC vs. 6 days open colectomy, P < .001) and decreased use of analgesics were reported in the LAC group. A 21% conversion rate from LAC to open procedure was shown.
    • This study excluded patients with locally advanced disease, transverse colon and rectal tumor locations, and perforated lesions. Each of the 66 surgeons participating in the trial had performed at least 20 LACs and were accredited for study participation after independent videotape review assured appropriate oncologic and surgical principles were maintained.[5] The quality-of-life component of this trial was published separately and minimal short-term quality-of-life benefits with LAC were reported.[6][Level of evidence A3]
  2. One small, single-institution randomized study of 219 patients showed that the LAC procedure was independently associated with reduced tumor recurrence on multivariate analysis.[7][Level of evidence A1]

Surgery is curative in 25% to 40% of highly selected patients who develop resectable metastases in the liver and lung. Improved surgical techniques and advances in preoperative imaging have allowed for better patient selection for resection.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy

The potential value of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer is controversial. Pooled analyses and meta-analyses have suggested a 2% to 4% improvement in OS for patients treated with adjuvant fluorouracil (5-FU)–based therapy compared with observation.[8-10] For more information, see the Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer section.

Before 2000, 5-FU was the only useful cytotoxic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting for patients with stage III colon cancer. Since 2000, capecitabine has been established as an equivalent alternative to 5-FU and leucovorin (5-FU/LV). The addition of oxaliplatin to 5-FU/LV has been shown to improve OS compared with 5-FU/LV alone. For more information, see the Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer section.

Chemotherapy regimens

Table 7 describes the chemotherapy regimens used to treat colon cancer.

Table 7. Drug Combinations Used to Treat Colon Cancer
Regimen NameDrug CombinationDose
5-FU = fluorouracil; AIO = Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie; bid = twice a day; IV = intravenous; LV = leucovorin.
AIO or German AIO Folic acid, 5-FU, and irinotecan Irinotecan (100 mg/m2) and LV (500 mg/m2) administered as 2-hour infusions on d 1, followed by 5-FU (2,000 mg/m2) IV bolus administered via ambulatory pump weekly over 24 h, 4 times a y (52 wk).
CAPOX Capecitabine and oxaliplatin Capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) bid on d 1–14, plus oxaliplatin (70 mg/m2) on d 1 and 8 every 3 wk.
Douillard Folic acid, 5-FU, and irinotecan Irinotecan (180 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1, LV (200 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1 and 2, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus, then 5-FU (600 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 22 h every 2 wk on d 1 and 2.
FOLFIRI LV, 5-FU, and irinotecan Irinotecan (180 mg/m2) and LV (400 mg/m2) administered as 2-h infusions on d 1, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus administered on d 1, then 5-FU (2,400–3,000 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 46 h every 2 wk.
FOLFOX-4 Oxaliplatin, LV, and 5-FU Oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1, LV (200 mg/m2) administered as a 2-h infusion on d 1 and 2, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus, then 5-FU (600 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 22 h every 2 wk on d 1 and 2.
FOLFOX-6 Oxaliplatin, LV, and 5-FU Oxaliplatin (85–100 mg/m2) and LV (400 mg/m2) administered as 2-h infusions on d 1, followed by a loading dose of 5-FU (400 mg/m2) IV bolus on d 1, then 5-FU (2,400–3,000 mg/m2) administered via ambulatory pump over 46 h every 2 wk.
FOLFOXIRI Irinotecan, oxaliplatin, LV, 5-FU Irinotecan (165 mg/m2) administered as a 60-min infusion, then concomitant infusion of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) and LV (200 mg/m2) over 120 min, followed by 5-FU (3,200 mg/m2) administered as a 48-h continuous infusion.
FUFOX5-FU, LV, and oxaliplatin Oxaliplatin (50 mg/m2) plus LV (500 mg/m2) plus 5-FU (2,000 mg/m2) administered as a 22-h continuous infusion on d 1, 8, 22, and 29 every 36 d.
FUOX 5-FU plus oxaliplatin 5-FU (2,250 mg/m2) administered as a continuous infusion over 48 h on d 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36 plus oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) on d 1, 15, and 29 every 6 wk.
IFL (or Saltz) Irinotecan, 5-FU, and LV Irinotecan (125 mg/m2) plus 5-FU (500 mg/m2) IV bolus and LV (20 mg/m2) IV bolus administered weekly for 4 out of 6 wk.
XELOX Capecitabine plus oxaliplatin Oral capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) administered bid for 14 d plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) on d 1 every 3 wk.

Capecitabine and fluorouracil dosing

The DPYD gene encodes an enzyme that catabolizes pyrimidines and fluoropyrimidines, like capecitabine and fluorouracil. An estimated 1% to 2% of the population has germline pathogenic variants in DPYD, which lead to reduced DPD protein function and an accumulation of pyrimidines and fluoropyrimidines in the body.[11,12] Patients with the DPYD*2A variant who receive fluoropyrimidines may experience severe, life-threatening toxicities that are sometimes fatal. Many other DPYD variants have been identified, with a range of clinical effects.[11-13] Fluoropyrimidine avoidance or a dose reduction of 50% may be recommended based on the patient's DPYD genotype and number of functioning DPYD alleles.[14-16] DPYD genetic testing costs less than $200, but insurance coverage varies due to a lack of national guidelines.[17] In addition, testing may delay therapy by 2 weeks, which would not be advisable in urgent situations. This controversial issue requires further evaluation.[18]

Adjuvant Radiation Therapy

While combined modality therapy with chemotherapy and radiation therapy has a significant role in the management of patients with rectal cancer (below the peritoneal reflection), the role of adjuvant radiation therapy for patients with colon cancer (above the peritoneal reflection) is not well defined. Patterns-of-care analyses and single-institution retrospective reviews suggest a role for radiation therapy in certain high-risk subsets of colon cancer patients (e.g., T4, tumor location in immobile sites, local perforation, obstruction, and residual disease postresection).[19-24]

Evidence (adjuvant radiation therapy):

  1. A phase III, randomized, intergroup study evaluated the benefit of adding radiation therapy to surgery and chemotherapy with 5-FU-levamisole in selected patients with high-risk colon cancer (e.g., T4; or T3, N1–N2 ascending and/or descending colon).[25]
    • This clinical trial closed early secondary to inadequate patient accrual. An analysis of 222 enrolled patients (the original goal was 700 patients) demonstrated no relapse or OS benefit for the group that received radiation therapy, although the sample size and statistical power were inadequate to exclude benefit.

Adjuvant radiation therapy has no current standard role in the management of patients with colon cancer following curative resection, although it may have a role for patients with residual disease.

References
  1. Bokey EL, Moore JW, Chapuis PH, et al.: Morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy for cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S24-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  2. Franklin ME, Rosenthal D, Abrego-Medina D, et al.: Prospective comparison of open vs. laparoscopic colon surgery for carcinoma. Five-year results. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S35-46, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Fleshman JW, Nelson H, Peters WR, et al.: Early results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis of 372 patients treated by Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study Group. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S53-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Schwenk W, Böhm B, Müller JM: Postoperative pain and fatigue after laparoscopic or conventional colorectal resections. A prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc 12 (9): 1131-6, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy Study Group: A comparison of laparoscopically assisted and open colectomy for colon cancer. N Engl J Med 350 (20): 2050-9, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
  6. Weeks JC, Nelson H, Gelber S, et al.: Short-term quality-of-life outcomes following laparoscopic-assisted colectomy vs open colectomy for colon cancer: a randomized trial. JAMA 287 (3): 321-8, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  7. Lacy AM, García-Valdecasas JC, Delgado S, et al.: Laparoscopy-assisted colectomy versus open colectomy for treatment of non-metastatic colon cancer: a randomised trial. Lancet 359 (9325): 2224-9, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  8. Efficacy of adjuvant fluorouracil and folinic acid in B2 colon cancer. International Multicentre Pooled Analysis of B2 Colon Cancer Trials (IMPACT B2) Investigators. J Clin Oncol 17 (5): 1356-63, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  9. Gill S, Loprinzi CL, Sargent DJ, et al.: Pooled analysis of fluorouracil-based adjuvant therapy for stage II and III colon cancer: who benefits and by how much? J Clin Oncol 22 (10): 1797-806, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
  10. Mamounas E, Wieand S, Wolmark N, et al.: Comparative efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with Dukes' B versus Dukes' C colon cancer: results from four National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project adjuvant studies (C-01, C-02, C-03, and C-04) J Clin Oncol 17 (5): 1349-55, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  11. Sharma BB, Rai K, Blunt H, et al.: Pathogenic DPYD Variants and Treatment-Related Mortality in Patients Receiving Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Oncologist 26 (12): 1008-1016, 2021. [PUBMED Abstract]
  12. Lam SW, Guchelaar HJ, Boven E: The role of pharmacogenetics in capecitabine efficacy and toxicity. Cancer Treat Rev 50: 9-22, 2016. [PUBMED Abstract]
  13. Shakeel F, Fang F, Kwon JW, et al.: Patients carrying DPYD variant alleles have increased risk of severe toxicity and related treatment modifications during fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy. Pharmacogenomics 22 (3): 145-155, 2021. [PUBMED Abstract]
  14. Amstutz U, Henricks LM, Offer SM, et al.: Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guideline for Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Genotype and Fluoropyrimidine Dosing: 2017 Update. Clin Pharmacol Ther 103 (2): 210-216, 2018. [PUBMED Abstract]
  15. Henricks LM, Lunenburg CATC, de Man FM, et al.: DPYD genotype-guided dose individualisation of fluoropyrimidine therapy in patients with cancer: a prospective safety analysis. Lancet Oncol 19 (11): 1459-1467, 2018. [PUBMED Abstract]
  16. Lau-Min KS, Varughese LA, Nelson MN, et al.: Preemptive pharmacogenetic testing to guide chemotherapy dosing in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies: a qualitative study of barriers to implementation. BMC Cancer 22 (1): 47, 2022. [PUBMED Abstract]
  17. Brooks GA, Tapp S, Daly AT, et al.: Cost-effectiveness of DPYD Genotyping Prior to Fluoropyrimidine-based Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer. Clin Colorectal Cancer 21 (3): e189-e195, 2022. [PUBMED Abstract]
  18. Baker SD, Bates SE, Brooks GA, et al.: DPYD Testing: Time to Put Patient Safety First. J Clin Oncol 41 (15): 2701-2705, 2023. [PUBMED Abstract]
  19. Willett C, Tepper JE, Cohen A, et al.: Local failure following curative resection of colonic adenocarcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 10 (5): 645-51, 1984. [PUBMED Abstract]
  20. Willett C, Tepper JE, Cohen A, et al.: Obstructive and perforative colonic carcinoma: patterns of failure. J Clin Oncol 3 (3): 379-84, 1985. [PUBMED Abstract]
  21. Gunderson LL, Sosin H, Levitt S: Extrapelvic colon--areas of failure in a reoperation series: implications for adjuvant therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 11 (4): 731-41, 1985. [PUBMED Abstract]
  22. Willett CG, Fung CY, Kaufman DS, et al.: Postoperative radiation therapy for high-risk colon carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 11 (6): 1112-7, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  23. Willett CG, Goldberg S, Shellito PC, et al.: Does postoperative irradiation play a role in the adjuvant therapy of stage T4 colon cancer? Cancer J Sci Am 5 (4): 242-7, 1999 Jul-Aug. [PUBMED Abstract]
  24. Schild SE, Gunderson LL, Haddock MG, et al.: The treatment of locally advanced colon cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 37 (1): 51-8, 1997. [PUBMED Abstract]
  25. Martenson JA, Willett CG, Sargent DJ, et al.: Phase III study of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy compared with chemotherapy alone in the surgical adjuvant treatment of colon cancer: results of intergroup protocol 0130. J Clin Oncol 22 (16): 3277-83, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]

Treatment of Stage 0 Colon Cancer

Stage 0 colon cancer is the most superficial of all the lesions and is limited to the mucosa without invasion of the lamina propria. Because of its superficial nature, the surgical procedure may be limited.

Treatment Options for Stage 0 Colon Cancer

Treatment options for stage 0 colon cancer include:

  1. Surgery.

Surgery

Surgical options include local excision or simple polypectomy with clear margins, or colon resection for larger lesions not amenable to local excision.

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

Treatment of Stage I Colon Cancer

Because of its localized nature, stage I colon cancer has a high cure rate.

Treatment Options for Stage I Colon Cancer

Treatment options for stage I colon cancer include:

  1. Surgery. Wide surgical resection and anastomosis.

Surgery

Evidence (laparoscopic techniques):

  1. The role of laparoscopic techniques [1-4] in the treatment of colon cancer was examined in a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) comparing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy.
    • Three-year recurrence rates and 3-year overall survival rates were similar in the two groups. For more information, see the Primary Surgical Therapy section.
    • The quality-of-life component of this trial has been published and minimal short-term quality-of-life benefits with LAC were reported.[5][Level of evidence A3]

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References
  1. Bokey EL, Moore JW, Chapuis PH, et al.: Morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy for cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S24-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  2. Franklin ME, Rosenthal D, Abrego-Medina D, et al.: Prospective comparison of open vs. laparoscopic colon surgery for carcinoma. Five-year results. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S35-46, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Fleshman JW, Nelson H, Peters WR, et al.: Early results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis of 372 patients treated by Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study Group. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S53-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Schwenk W, Böhm B, Müller JM: Postoperative pain and fatigue after laparoscopic or conventional colorectal resections. A prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc 12 (9): 1131-6, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Weeks JC, Nelson H, Gelber S, et al.: Short-term quality-of-life outcomes following laparoscopic-assisted colectomy vs open colectomy for colon cancer: a randomized trial. JAMA 287 (3): 321-8, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]

Treatment of Stage II Colon Cancer

Treatment Options for Stage II Colon Cancer

Treatment options for stage II colon cancer include:

  1. Surgery. Wide surgical resection and anastomosis.
  2. Adjuvant chemotherapy (under clinical evaluation).

Surgery

Evidence (laparoscopic techniques):

  1. The role of laparoscopic techniques [1-4] in the treatment of colon cancer was examined in a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) comparing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) to open colectomy.
    • Three-year recurrence rates and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were similar in the two groups. For more information, see the Primary Surgical Therapy section.
    • The quality-of-life component of this trial reported minimal short-term quality-of-life benefits with LAC.[4][Level of evidence A3]

Adjuvant chemotherapy

The potential value of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer remains controversial. Although subgroups of patients with stage II colon cancer may be at higher-than-average risk for recurrence (including those with anatomical features such as tumor adherence to adjacent structures, perforation, and complete obstruction),[5-7] evidence is inconsistent that adjuvant fluorouracil (5-FU)–based chemotherapy is associated with an improved OS compared with surgery alone.[8]

Features in patients with stage II colon cancer that are associated with an increased risk of recurrence include:

  • Inadequate lymph node sampling.
  • T4 disease.
  • Involvement of the visceral peritoneum.
  • A poorly differentiated histology.

The decision to use adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer is complicated and requires thoughtful consideration by both patients and their physicians. Adjuvant therapy is not indicated for most patients unless they are entered into a clinical trial.

Evidence (adjuvant chemotherapy):

  1. The GRECCR-03 (NCT00046995) and NCRI-QUASAR1 (NCT00005586) trials evaluated the use of systemic or regional chemotherapy or biological therapy. Following surgery, patients can be considered for entry into a carefully controlled clinical trial.
  2. Investigators from the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project have indicated that the reduction in risk of recurrence by adjuvant therapy in patients with stage II disease is of similar magnitude to the benefit seen in patients with stage III disease treated with adjuvant therapy, though an OS advantage has not been established.[9]
  3. A meta-analysis of 1,000 stage II patients whose experience was amalgamated from a series of trials indicates a 2% advantage in disease-free survival at 5 years when adjuvant therapy–treated patients treated with 5-FU/leucovorin are compared with untreated controls.[10][Level of evidence B1]; [11]
  4. The Cancer Care Ontario Practice Guideline Initiative Gastrointestinal Cancer Disease Site Group undertook a meta-analysis of the English language–published literature consisting of randomized trials in which adjuvant chemotherapy was compared with observation for patients with stage II colon cancer.
    • The mortality risk ratio was 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.75–1.01; P = .07).[12]

Based on these data, the American Society of Clinical Oncology issued a guideline stating “direct evidence from randomized controlled trials does not support the routine use of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with stage II colon cancer.”[13]

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References
  1. Bokey EL, Moore JW, Chapuis PH, et al.: Morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy for cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S24-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  2. Franklin ME, Rosenthal D, Abrego-Medina D, et al.: Prospective comparison of open vs. laparoscopic colon surgery for carcinoma. Five-year results. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S35-46, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Fleshman JW, Nelson H, Peters WR, et al.: Early results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis of 372 patients treated by Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study Group. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S53-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Weeks JC, Nelson H, Gelber S, et al.: Short-term quality-of-life outcomes following laparoscopic-assisted colectomy vs open colectomy for colon cancer: a randomized trial. JAMA 287 (3): 321-8, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Lanza G, Matteuzzi M, Gafá R, et al.: Chromosome 18q allelic loss and prognosis in stage II and III colon cancer. Int J Cancer 79 (4): 390-5, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  6. Jen J, Kim H, Piantadosi S, et al.: Allelic loss of chromosome 18q and prognosis in colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 331 (4): 213-21, 1994. [PUBMED Abstract]
  7. Merkel S, Wein A, Günther K, et al.: High-risk groups of patients with Stage II colon carcinoma. Cancer 92 (6): 1435-43, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  8. Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Macdonald JS, et al.: Intergroup study of fluorouracil plus levamisole as adjuvant therapy for stage II/Dukes' B2 colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 13 (12): 2936-43, 1995. [PUBMED Abstract]
  9. Mamounas E, Wieand S, Wolmark N, et al.: Comparative efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with Dukes' B versus Dukes' C colon cancer: results from four National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project adjuvant studies (C-01, C-02, C-03, and C-04) J Clin Oncol 17 (5): 1349-55, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  10. Efficacy of adjuvant fluorouracil and folinic acid in B2 colon cancer. International Multicentre Pooled Analysis of B2 Colon Cancer Trials (IMPACT B2) Investigators. J Clin Oncol 17 (5): 1356-63, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  11. Harrington DP: The tea leaves of small trials. J Clin Oncol 17 (5): 1336-8, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  12. Figueredo A, Charette ML, Maroun J, et al.: Adjuvant therapy for stage II colon cancer: a systematic review from the Cancer Care Ontario Program in evidence-based care's gastrointestinal cancer disease site group. J Clin Oncol 22 (16): 3395-407, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
  13. Benson AB, Schrag D, Somerfield MR, et al.: American Society of Clinical Oncology recommendations on adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer. J Clin Oncol 22 (16): 3408-19, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]

Treatment of Stage III Colon Cancer

Stage III colon cancer denotes lymph node involvement. Studies have indicated that the number of lymph nodes involved affects prognosis; patients with one to three involved nodes have a significantly better survival than those with four or more involved nodes.

Treatment Options for Stage III Colon Cancer

Treatment options for stage III colon cancer include:

  1. Surgery.
  2. Adjuvant chemotherapy.
  3. Clinical trials. Eligible patients can consider enrollment in carefully controlled clinical trials comparing various postoperative chemotherapy regimens.[1]

Surgery

Surgery for stage III colon cancer is wide surgical resection and anastomosis.

Evidence (laparoscopic techniques):

  1. The role of laparoscopic techniques [2-5] in the treatment of colon cancer was examined in a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]) comparing laparoscopic-assisted colectomy (LAC) with open colectomy.
    • Three-year recurrence rates and 3-year overall survival (OS) rates were similar in the two groups. For more information, see the Primary Surgical Therapy section.
    • The quality-of-life component of this trial has been published and minimal short-term quality-of-life benefits with LAC were reported.[6][Level of evidence A3]

Adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy regimens before 2000

Before 2000, fluorouracil (5-FU) was the only useful cytotoxic chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting for patients with stage III colon cancer. Many of the early randomized studies of 5-FU in the adjuvant setting failed to show a significant improvement in survival for patients.[7-10] These trials employed 5-FU alone or 5-FU/semustine.

Evidence (5-FU alone and 5-FU/semustine):

  1. The North Central Cancer Treatment Group conducted a randomized trial comparing surgical resection alone with postoperative levamisole or levamisole/5-FU.[11][Level of evidence A1]
    • A significant improvement in disease-free survival (DFS) was observed for patients with stage III colon cancer who received levamisole/5-FU, but OS benefits were of borderline statistical significance.
    • An absolute survival benefit of approximately 12% (49% vs. 37%) was seen in patients with stage III disease treated with levamisole/5-FU.
  2. In a large confirmatory intergroup trial, levamisole/5-FU- prolonged DFS and OS in patients with stage III colon cancer compared with patients who received no treatment after surgery.[12][Level of evidence A1] Levamisole alone did not confer these benefits.
  3. Subsequent studies tested the combination of 5-FU/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) in the adjuvant treatment of patients with resected carcinoma of the colon.
    • Results of multiple randomized trials that have enrolled more than 4,000 patients comparing adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU/LV to surgery or 5-FU/semustine/vincristine demonstrate a relative reduction in mortality of between 22% and 33% (3-year OS of 71%–78% increased to 75%–84%).[13-15]
  4. The completed Intergroup trial 0089 (INT-0089 [NCT00201331]) randomly assigned 3,794 patients with high-risk stage II or stage III colon cancer to one of the following four treatment arms:[16]
    • The Mayo Clinic regimen administered for a total of six cycles.
    • The Roswell Park regimen administered for a total of four cycles.
    • The Mayo Clinic regimen administered with levamisole for six cycles.
    • The levamisole regimen administered for a total of 1 year.

    Results:

    • Five-year OS ranged from 49% for the Mayo Clinic regimen with levamisole to 60% for the Mayo Clinic regimen, and there were no statistically significant differences among treatment arms.[16][Level of evidence A1]
    • A preliminary report in November 1997 demonstrated a statistically significant advantage for OS for the Mayo Clinic regimen with levamisole compared with the levamisole regimen. This difference became insignificant with longer follow-up.
    • Overall, grade 3 or greater toxicity occurred more frequently for the Mayo Clinic regimen and the Mayo Clinic regimen with levamisole. In addition, the Mayo Clinic regimen was significantly more toxic with levamisole than without levamisole.
    • The death rate for all four regimens ranged from 0.5% to 1%.
    • Because of its ease of use and its good toxicity profile, the Roswell Park regimen became the preferred adjuvant regimen used in the United States and was often the control arm in subsequent randomized studies.
  5. In addition to INT-0089, multiple studies have refined the use of 5-FU/LV in the adjuvant setting and can be summarized as follows:
    • Levamisole is unnecessary when using leucovorin.[16]
    • Treatment that includes 6 to 8 months of 5-FU/LV is equivalent to 12 months of therapy.[17-19]
    • Treatment that includes 24 weeks of adjuvant 5-FU/LV is equivalent to 36 weeks of therapy.[20]
    • High-dose leucovorin is equivalent to low-dose leucovorin.[21]
    • A meta-analysis of seven trials revealed no significant difference in efficacy or toxicity among patients aged 70 years or younger compared with patients older than 70 years.[22]
    • An infusional de Gramont bolus and infusional 5-FU/LV schedule is safer than a bolus modified Mayo Clinic schedule of 5-FU/LV.[20]
Chemotherapy regimens after 2000

Capecitabine

Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine that undergoes a three-step enzymatic conversion to 5-FU with the last step occurring in the tumor cell. For patients with metastatic colon cancer, two studies have demonstrated the equivalence of capecitabine to 5-FU/LV.[23,24]

For patients with stage III colon cancer, capecitabine provides equivalent outcome to intravenous 5-FU/LV.

Evidence (capecitabine):

  1. A multicenter European study compared capecitabine (1,250 mg/m2) administered twice daily for days 1 to 14, then given every 21 days for eight cycles against the Mayo Clinic schedule of 5-FU and low-dose LV for patients with stage III colon cancer.[25]
    • The study demonstrated that DFS at 3 years is equivalent for patients who received capecitabine or 5-FU/LV (hazard ratio [HR], 0.87; P < .001).[25][Level of evidence B1]
    • Hand-foot syndrome and hyperbilirubinemia were significantly more common for patients receiving capecitabine, but diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, stomatitis, alopecia, and neutropenia were significantly less common.
    • Of patients receiving capecitabine, 57% required a dose modification.
    • For patients with stage III colon cancer in whom treatment with 5-FU/LV is planned, capecitabine is an equivalent alternative.

Oxaliplatin

Oxaliplatin has significant activity when combined with 5-FU/LV in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Evidence (oxaliplatin):

  1. In the 2,246 patients with resected stage II or stage III colon cancer in the completed Multicenter International Study of Oxaliplatin/Fluorouracil/Leucovorin in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colon Cancer study (MOSAIC [NCT00275210]), the toxic effects and efficacy of FOLFOX-4 (oxaliplatin/LV/5-FU) were compared with the same 5-FU/LV regimen without oxaliplatin administered for 6 months.[26] Based on results from the MOSAIC trial, adjuvant FOLFOX-4 demonstrated prolonged OS for patients with stage III colon cancer compared with patients receiving 5-FU/LV without oxaliplatin.[27]
    • The preliminary results of the study with 37 months of follow-up demonstrated a significant improvement in DFS at 3 years (77.8% vs. 72.9%; P = .01) in favor of FOLFOX-4. When initially reported, there was no difference in OS.[27][Level of evidence B1]
    • Further follow-up at 6 years demonstrated that the OS for all patients (both stage II and stage III) entered into the study was not significantly different (OS, 78.5% vs. 76.0%; HR, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71–1.00). On subset analysis, the 6-year OS in patients with stage III colon cancer was 72.9% in the patients receiving FOLFOX-4 and 68.7% in the patients receiving 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.65–0.97; P = .023).[27][Level of evidence A1]
    • Patients treated with FOLFOX-4 experienced more frequent toxic effects consisting mainly of neutropenia (41% >grade 3) and reversible peripheral sensorial neuropathy (12.4% >grade 3).
  2. In a randomized phase III study (NSABP C-07 [NCT00004931]), 2,407 patients with stage II or stage III colon cancer were randomly assigned to adjuvant 5-FU/LV or fluorouracil-leucovorin-oxaliplatin (FLOX) (weekly 5-FU/LV with oxaliplatin administered on weeks 1, 3, and 5 of each 6-week cycle). DFS was the primary end point of the study.[28]
    • DFS was significantly longer in the treatment group who received FLOX, but OS was not significantly different. The DFS rate was 69.4% for patients who received FLOX and 64.2% for patients who received 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.72–0.93; P = .0034).
    • The OS rate at 5 years was 80.2% for patients who received FLOX and 78.4% for patients who received 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.75–1.02; P = .08).[28][Level of evidence B1]
    • Grade 3 and grade 4 diarrhea was experienced by 36.9% of patients who received FLOX, and grade 3 and grade 4 dehydration was experienced by 16.1% of patients who received FLOX.

Most physicians have adopted FOLFOX as the standard of care because of toxicity concerns with weekly FLOX. FOLFOX has become the reference standard for the next generation of clinical trials for patients with stage III colon cancer.[27]

Capecitabine and oxaliplatin

The combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) is an accepted standard therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Evidence (CAPOX):

  1. CAPOX was evaluated in the adjuvant setting for patients with resected stage III colon cancer (capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid on days 1 to 14 every 21 days and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 every 21 days for a total of 8 cycles).[29] A randomized phase III trial (NO16968 [NCT00069121]), randomly assigned 1,886 patients with stage III colon cancer to receive CAPOX or bolus 5FU-LV (Roswell Park or Mayo Clinic schedule).
    • The 7-year DFS rates were 63% for patients who received CAPOX and 56% for patients who received bolus 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.69–0.93; P = .004).
    • The 7-year OS rates were 73% for patients who received CAPOX and 67% for patients who received a bolus 5-FU/LV (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70–0.99; P = .04).[29][Level of evidence A1]

On the basis of this trial, CAPOX has become an acceptable standard regimen for patients with stage III colon cancer.

Oxaliplatin length of therapy

Given the high rate of disabling neuropathy, the duration of oxaliplatin adjuvant therapy became an open question.

Evidence (length of therapy for oxaliplatin):

  1. The International Duration Evaluation of Adjuvant Therapy (IDEA) collaboration consisted of six separate randomized trials with regimens of 6 months versus 3 months of adjuvant oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. The IDEA study was a prospective, preplanned pooled analysis of these concurrently conducted studies to evaluate the noninferiority of adjuvant therapy of either FOLFOX or CAPOX administered for 3 months versus 6 months. Noninferiority could be claimed if the upper limit of the two-sided 95% CI of the HR did not exceed 1.12.[30]

    From June 2007 through December 2015, 13,025 patients with stage III colon cancer were enrolled in six concurrent phase III trials. Of these patients, 12,834 patients met the criteria for intention-to-treat analysis. At a median follow-up of 41.8 months, noninferiority of 3 months versus 6 months was not confirmed in the modified intention-to-treat population (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00–1.15, P = .11 for noninferiority of 3 months).

    1. The 3-year DFS rates were 74.6% in the 3-month group and 75.5% in the 6-month group.
    2. Neurotoxicity of grade 2 or higher was lower in the 3-month group (16.6% for patients who received FOLFOX and 14.2% for patients who received CAPOX) than in the 6-month group (47.7% for patients who received FOLFOX and 44.9% for patients who received CAPOX). Moreover, all other toxicities were substantially lower with 3 months of treatment than with 6 months.
    3. A subgroup analyses observed:
      • Among patients receiving FOLFOX, 6 months of therapy was superior to 3 months of therapy (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06–1.26; P = .001)
      • Among patients receiving CAPOX, 3 months of therapy was like 6 months of therapy (HRDFS, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.85–1.06) and met the prespecified margin for noninferiority.
      • Among patients with N1 tumors (<4 positive nodes), the HR was 1.07 (0.97–1.17), and among those patients with N2 tumors (≥4 positive nodes), the HR was 1.07 (0.96–1.19).
      • Among patients with T4 tumors, a therapy duration of 3 months was inferior to a duration of 6 months (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03–1.31).
      • Among patients with low-risk tumors (T1–3, N1), 3 months of therapy was noninferior to 6 months of therapy (HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90–1.12) with a 3-year DFS rate of 83.1% for patients who received 3 months of therapy and 83.3% for patients who received 6 months of therapy.
      • Among patients with high-risk tumors (T4 or N2), 6 months of therapy was superior to 3 months of therapy (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03–1.23; P = .01).

The IDEA study has generated much debate regarding the optimal length of therapy. It is recommended that patients and doctors weigh the pros and cons of potential diminished efficacy of 3 months of therapy versus the definite increased risk of toxicity, particularly neuropathy. CAPOX appears to be slightly more active than FOLFOX in the adjuvant setting.

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

References
  1. Rougier P, Nordlinger B: Large scale trial for adjuvant treatment in high risk resected colorectal cancers. Rationale to test the combination of loco-regional and systemic chemotherapy and to compare l-leucovorin + 5-FU to levamisole + 5-FU. Ann Oncol 4 (Suppl 2): 21-8, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  2. Bokey EL, Moore JW, Chapuis PH, et al.: Morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy for cancer. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S24-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  3. Franklin ME, Rosenthal D, Abrego-Medina D, et al.: Prospective comparison of open vs. laparoscopic colon surgery for carcinoma. Five-year results. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S35-46, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  4. Fleshman JW, Nelson H, Peters WR, et al.: Early results of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer. Retrospective analysis of 372 patients treated by Clinical Outcomes of Surgical Therapy (COST) Study Group. Dis Colon Rectum 39 (10 Suppl): S53-8, 1996. [PUBMED Abstract]
  5. Schwenk W, Böhm B, Müller JM: Postoperative pain and fatigue after laparoscopic or conventional colorectal resections. A prospective randomized trial. Surg Endosc 12 (9): 1131-6, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  6. Weeks JC, Nelson H, Gelber S, et al.: Short-term quality-of-life outcomes following laparoscopic-assisted colectomy vs open colectomy for colon cancer: a randomized trial. JAMA 287 (3): 321-8, 2002. [PUBMED Abstract]
  7. Panettiere FJ, Goodman PJ, Costanzi JJ, et al.: Adjuvant therapy in large bowel adenocarcinoma: long-term results of a Southwest Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol 6 (6): 947-54, 1988. [PUBMED Abstract]
  8. Adjuvant therapy of colon cancer--results of a prospectively randomized trial. Gastrointestinal Tumor Study Group. N Engl J Med 310 (12): 737-43, 1984. [PUBMED Abstract]
  9. Higgins GA, Amadeo JH, McElhinney J, et al.: Efficacy of prolonged intermittent therapy with combined 5-fluorouracil and methyl-CCNU following resection for carcinoma of the large bowel. A Veterans Administration Surgical Oncology Group report. Cancer 53 (1): 1-8, 1984. [PUBMED Abstract]
  10. Buyse M, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Chalmers TC: Adjuvant therapy of colorectal cancer. Why we still don't know. JAMA 259 (24): 3571-8, 1988. [PUBMED Abstract]
  11. Laurie JA, Moertel CG, Fleming TR, et al.: Surgical adjuvant therapy of large-bowel carcinoma: an evaluation of levamisole and the combination of levamisole and fluorouracil. The North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the Mayo Clinic. J Clin Oncol 7 (10): 1447-56, 1989. [PUBMED Abstract]
  12. Moertel CG, Fleming TR, Macdonald JS, et al.: Levamisole and fluorouracil for adjuvant therapy of resected colon carcinoma. N Engl J Med 322 (6): 352-8, 1990. [PUBMED Abstract]
  13. Wolmark N, Rockette H, Fisher B, et al.: The benefit of leucovorin-modulated fluorouracil as postoperative adjuvant therapy for primary colon cancer: results from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project protocol C-03. J Clin Oncol 11 (10): 1879-87, 1993. [PUBMED Abstract]
  14. Efficacy of adjuvant fluorouracil and folinic acid in colon cancer. International Multicentre Pooled Analysis of Colon Cancer Trials (IMPACT) investigators. Lancet 345 (8955): 939-44, 1995. [PUBMED Abstract]
  15. O'Connell M, Mailliard J, Macdonald J, et al.: An intergroup trial of intensive course 5FU and low dose leucovorin as surgical adjuvant therapy for high risk colon cancer. [Abstract] Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 12: A-552, 190, 1993.
  16. Haller DG, Catalano PJ, Macdonald JS, et al.: Phase III study of fluorouracil, leucovorin, and levamisole in high-risk stage II and III colon cancer: final report of Intergroup 0089. J Clin Oncol 23 (34): 8671-8, 2005. [PUBMED Abstract]
  17. Wolmark N, Bryant J, Smith R, et al.: Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin with or without interferon alfa-2a in colon carcinoma: National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project protocol C-05. J Natl Cancer Inst 90 (23): 1810-6, 1998. [PUBMED Abstract]
  18. Wolmark N, Rockette H, Mamounas E, et al.: Clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy of fluorouracil and leucovorin, fluorouracil and levamisole, and fluorouracil, leucovorin, and levamisole in patients with Dukes' B and C carcinoma of the colon: results from National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project C-04. J Clin Oncol 17 (11): 3553-9, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
  19. Okuno SH, Woodhouse CL, Loprinzi CL, et al.: Phase III placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluation of glutamine for decreasing mucositis in patients receiving 5FU (fluorouracil)-base chemotherapy. [Abstract] Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 17: A-256, 1998.
  20. Andre T, Colin P, Louvet C, et al.: Semimonthly versus monthly regimen of fluorouracil and leucovorin administered for 24 or 36 weeks as adjuvant therapy in stage II and III colon cancer: results of a randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 21 (15): 2896-903, 2003. [PUBMED Abstract]
  21. Comparison of flourouracil with additional levamisole, higher-dose folinic acid, or both, as adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: a randomised trial. QUASAR Collaborative Group. Lancet 355 (9215): 1588-96, 2000. [PUBMED Abstract]
  22. Sargent DJ, Goldberg RM, Jacobson SD, et al.: A pooled analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colon cancer in elderly patients. N Engl J Med 345 (15): 1091-7, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  23. Van Cutsem E, Twelves C, Cassidy J, et al.: Oral capecitabine compared with intravenous fluorouracil plus leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: results of a large phase III study. J Clin Oncol 19 (21): 4097-106, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  24. Hoff PM, Ansari R, Batist G, et al.: Comparison of oral capecitabine versus intravenous fluorouracil plus leucovorin as first-line treatment in 605 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: results of a randomized phase III study. J Clin Oncol 19 (8): 2282-92, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
  25. Twelves C, Wong A, Nowacki MP, et al.: Capecitabine as adjuvant treatment for stage III colon cancer. N Engl J Med 352 (26): 2696-704, 2005. [PUBMED Abstract]
  26. André T, Boni C, Mounedji-Boudiaf L, et al.: Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin as adjuvant treatment for colon cancer. N Engl J Med 350 (23): 2343-51, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
  27. André T, Boni C, Navarro M, et al.: Improved overall survival with oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and leucovorin as adjuvant treatment in stage II or III colon cancer in the MOSAIC trial. J Clin Oncol 27 (19): 3109-16, 2009. [PUBMED Abstract]
  28. Yothers G, O'Connell MJ, Allegra CJ, et al.: Oxaliplatin as adjuvant therapy for colon cancer: updated results of NSABP C-07 trial, including survival and subset analyses. J Clin Oncol 29 (28): 3768-74, 2011. [PUBMED Abstract]
  29. Schmoll HJ, Tabernero J, Maroun J, et al.: Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin Compared With Fluorouracil/Folinic Acid As Adjuvant Therapy for Stage III Colon Cancer: Final Results of the NO16968 Randomized Controlled Phase III Trial. J Clin Oncol 33 (32): 3733-40, 2015. [PUBMED Abstract]
  30. Grothey A, Sobrero AF, Shields AF, et al.: Duration of Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colon Cancer. N Engl J Med 378 (13): 1177-1188, 2018. [PUBMED Abstract]

Treatment of Stage IV and Recurrent Colon Cancer

Stage IV colon cancer denotes distant metastatic disease. Treatment of recurrent colon cancer depends on the sites of recurrent disease demonstrable by physical examination and/or radiographic studies. In addition to standard radiographic procedures, radioimmunoscintography may add clinical information that may affect management.[1] Such approaches have not led to improvements in long-term outcome measures such as survival.

Treatment options for stage IV colon cancer, recurrent colon cancer, and liver metastases include:

  1. Surgical resection of locally recurrent cancer.
  2. Surgical resection and anastomosis or bypass of obstructing or bleeding primary lesions in selected metastatic cases.
  3. Resection of liver metastases in selected metastatic patients (5-year cure rate for resection of solitary or combination metastases exceeds 20%) or ablation in selected patients.[2-11]
  4. Resection of isolated pulmonary or ovarian metastases in selected patients.[12]
  5. Palliative radiation therapy.
  6. Palliative chemotherapy.
  7. Targeted therapy.
  8. Clinical trials comparing various new drugs, chemotherapy regimens, or biological therapies, alone or in combination.

Treatment Options for Liver Metastasis

Approximately 50% of colon cancer patients will be diagnosed with hepatic metastases, either at the time of initial presentation or because of disease recurrence. Although only a small proportion of patients with hepatic metastases are candidates for surgical resection, advances in tumor ablation techniques and in both regional and systemic chemotherapy administration provide for several treatment options. These include:

Surgery

Hepatic metastasis may be considered to be resectable based on the following factors:[5,7,13-16]

  • Limited number of lesions.
  • Intrahepatic locations of lesions.
  • Lack of major vascular involvement.
  • Absent or limited extrahepatic disease.
  • Enough functional hepatic reserve.

For patients with resectable hepatic metastasis, a negative margin resection resulted in 5-year survival rates of 25% to 40% in mostly nonrandomized studies, such as the North Central Cancer Treatment Group trial (NCCTG-934653 [NCT00002575]).[5,7,13-16][Level of evidence C3] Improved surgical techniques and advances in preoperative imaging have improved patient selection for resection. In addition, multiple studies with multiagent chemotherapy have demonstrated that patients with metastatic disease isolated to the liver, which historically would be considered unresectable, can occasionally be made resectable after the administration of chemotherapy.[17]

For patients with unresectable liver metastases, excellent outcomes have been achieved with liver transplant. The optimal patient cohort for this therapy is still being determined, but in general, the goal is to achieve good initial systemic control with chemotherapy, followed by transplant. In one study of 91 patients, 11% underwent live donor liver transplant. At a median follow-up of 1.5 years after transplant, the recurrence-free survival rate was 62% and the overall survival (OS) rate was 100%.[18][Level of evidence C3]

In the TRANSMET study (NCT02597348), published in abstract form, 94 patients were randomly assigned to receive either chemotherapy and liver transplant (n = 47) or chemotherapy alone (n = 47). In an intent-to-treat analysis, the 5-year OS rate was 57% in the chemotherapy-and-liver transplant arm and 13% in the chemotherapy-alone arm. In a per-protocol analysis, the 5-year OS rate was 73% in the chemotherapy-and-liver transplant arm and 9% in the chemotherapy-alone arm.[19][Level of evidence A1]

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for unresectable liver metastases

Patients with hepatic metastases that are deemed unresectable will occasionally become candidates for resection if they have a good response to chemotherapy. These patients have 5-year survival rates similar to patients who initially had resectable disease.[17] There is no consensus on the best regimen to use to convert unresectable isolated liver metastases to resectable liver metastases.

Local ablation

Radiofrequency ablation has emerged as a safe technique (2% major morbidity and <1% mortality rate) that may provide for long-term tumor control.[20-26] Radiofrequency ablation and cryosurgical ablation [27-30] remain options for patients with tumors that cannot be resected and for patients who are not candidates for liver resection.

Other local ablative techniques that have been used to manage liver metastases include embolization and interstitial radiation therapy.[31,32] Patients with limited pulmonary metastases, and patients with both pulmonary and hepatic metastases, may also be considered for surgical resection, with 5-year survival possible in highly-selected patients.[12,33,34]

Adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable liver metastases

The role of adjuvant chemotherapy after potentially curative resection of liver metastases is uncertain.

Evidence (adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable liver metastases):

In the era before the use of FOLFOX (leucovorin calcium [LV], fluorouracil [5-FU], and oxaliplatin) and FOLFIRI (5-FU/LV/irinotecan), two trials attempted to randomly assign patients after resection of liver metastases to 5-FU/LV or observation, but both studies were closed early because of poor accrual.

  1. The FFCD-9902 trial (NCT00304135) randomly assigned 173 patients (200 patients were planned) to postoperative 5-FU/LV, which is the Mayo Clinic regimen, or observation.[35]
    • The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 33.5% for patients in the chemotherapy group and 26.7% for patients in the control group (Cox multivariate analysis: odds ratio (OR) for recurrence or death, 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.46–0.96; P = .028). The 5-year OS rate was not significantly different between the groups (chemotherapy group, 51.1% vs. the control group, 41.1%; ORdeath, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.48–1.10; P = .13).
  2. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer/National Cancer Institute of Canada/Gruppo Interdisciplinare Valutazione Interventi in Oncologia (EORTC/NCIC/GIVIO) International trial attempted a similar random assignment of patients after surgical resection of liver metastases. The study closed because of poor accrual, and a combined analysis of the study and the FFCD-9902 study was done instead. In the combined analysis, 278 patients (138 of whom received chemotherapy; 14 of whom received surgery alone) were included.[36]
    • The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 27.9 months in the chemotherapy arm and 18.8 months in the surgery alone arm (hazard ratio [HR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.00–1.76; P = .058).
    • The median OS was 62.2 months in the chemotherapy arm compared with 47.3 months in the surgery-alone arm (HR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.95–1.82; P = .095).

In the era of multiagent chemotherapy, two subsequent studies evaluated its role in the adjuvant setting following resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

  1. A phase III study randomly assigned 306 patients to 5-FU/LV or FOLFIRI after a resection of liver metastases.[37]
    • There was no difference in DFS (21.6 months for 5-FU/LV vs. 24.7 months for FOLFIRI; HR, 0.89; log-rank P = .44) or OS (HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.72–1.64).
  2. The EORTC-40983 trial (NCT00006479) randomly assigned 364 patients with up to four resectable liver metastases to perioperative FOLFOX (six cycles presurgery and six cycles postsurgery) or surgery alone.[38]
    • The PFS rate was 28.1% (95.66% CI, 21.3%–35.5%) for the surgery-alone group and 35.4% (28.1%–42.7%; HR, 0.79; 0.62–1.02; P = .058) for the perioperative chemotherapy group. There was no difference in OS. Subsequent post hoc analysis demonstrated that the difference in PFS in truly eligible patients rose 8.1% (from 28.1% [21.2%–36.6%] to 36.2% [28.7%–43.8%]; HR, 0.77 [0.60–1.00]; P = .041). In patients who underwent resection of liver metastases, the difference in PFS rose 9.2% (from 33.2% [25.3%–41.2%] to 42.4% [34.0%–50.5%]; HR, 0.73 [0.55–0.97]; P = .025).
    • Reversible postoperative complications occurred more often after chemotherapy than after surgery (40 [25%] of the 159 complications vs. 27 [16%] of the 170 complications; P = .04). After surgery, there were two deaths in the surgery-alone group and one in the perioperative chemotherapy group.

There is no high-level evidence to demonstrate that perioperative or postoperative chemotherapy improves OS for patients undergoing resection of liver metastases. Nevertheless, on the basis of post hoc subset analyses of the EORTC study, some physicians feel perioperative or postoperative therapy is reasonable in this setting.

Intra-arterial chemotherapy after liver resection

Hepatic intra-arterial chemotherapy with floxuridine for liver metastases has produced higher overall response rates but no consistent improvement in survival when compared with systemic chemotherapy.[2,39-43] A meta-analysis of the randomized studies, which were all done in the era when only fluoropyrimidines were available for systemic therapy, did not demonstrate a survival advantage.[44]

Evidence (intra-arterial chemotherapy after liver resection):

Two trials evaluated hepatic arterial floxuridine in the adjuvant setting after liver resection.

  1. A trial of hepatic arterial floxuridine and dexamethasone plus systemic 5-FU/LV compared with systemic 5-FU/LV alone showed improved 2-year PFS rates (57% vs. 42%, P = .07) and OS rates (86% vs. 72%, P = .03) for patients in the combined therapy arm but did not show a significant statistical difference in median survival compared with systemic 5-FU therapy alone.[45][Level of evidence A1]
    • The median survival in the combined therapy arm was 72.2 months versus 59.3 months in the monotherapy arm (P = .21).
  2. A second trial preoperatively randomly assigned 109 patients who had one to three potentially resectable colorectal hepatic metastases to either no further therapy or postoperative hepatic arterial floxuridine plus systemic 5-FU.[46] Of those randomly assigned patients, 27% were deemed ineligible at the time of surgery, which left only 75 patients evaluable for recurrence and survival.
    • While liver cancer recurrence was decreased, median or 4-year survival was not significantly different between the patient groups.

Further studies are required to evaluate this treatment approach and to determine whether more effective systemic combination chemotherapy alone may provide similar results compared with hepatic intra-arterial therapy plus systemic treatment.

Several studies show increased local toxic effects with hepatic infusional therapy, including liver function abnormalities and fatal biliary sclerosis.

Treatment Options for Stage IV and Recurrent Colon Cancer

Treatment of patients with recurrent or advanced colon cancer depends on the location of the disease.

Surgery

For patients with locally recurrent and/or liver-only and/or lung-only metastatic disease, surgical resection, if feasible, is the only potentially curative treatment.

Systemic therapy

The following drugs are used alone and in combination with other drugs for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer:

5-FU

When 5-FU was the only active chemotherapy drug, trials in patients with locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic disease demonstrated partial responses and prolongation of the time-to-progression (TTP) of disease,[47,48] and improved survival and quality of life for patients who received chemotherapy versus best supportive care.[49-51] Several trials have analyzed the activity and toxic effects of various 5-FU/LV regimens using different doses and administration schedules and showed essentially equivalent results with a median survival time in the 12-month range.[52]

Capecitabine

Before the advent of multiagent chemotherapy, two randomized studies demonstrated that capecitabine was associated with equivalent efficacy when compared with the Mayo Clinic regimen of 5-FU/LV.[53,54][Level of evidence A1]

Irinotecan

Three randomized studies demonstrated improved response rates, PFS, and OS when irinotecan or oxaliplatin was combined with 5-FU/LV.[55-57]

Evidence (irinotecan):

  1. An intergroup study (NCCTG-N9741 [NCT00003594]) compared irinotecan/5-FU/LV (IFL) with oxaliplatin/LV/5-FU (FOLFOX-4) in first-line treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
    • Patients assigned to FOLFOX-4 experienced an improved PFS (median, 6.9 months vs. 8.7 months; P = .014; HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61–0.89) and OS (15.0 months vs. 19.5 months, P = .001; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.54–0.82) compared with patients randomly assigned to IFL.
  2. Subsequently, two studies compared FOLFOX with FOLFIRI, and patients were allowed to cross over upon progression on first-line therapy, respectively.[58,59][Level of evidence B1]
    • PFS and OS were identical between the treatment arms in both studies.
  3. The Bolus, Infusional, or Capecitabine with Camptosar-Celecoxib (BICC-C [NCT00094965]) trial evaluated several different irinotecan-based regimens in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer, including FOLFIRI, irinotecan plus bolus 5-FU/LV (mIFL), and capecitabine/irinotecan (CAPIRI).[60][Level of evidence A1]
    • The study randomly assigned 430 patients and was closed early because of poor accrual.
    • The patients who received FOLFIRI had a better PFS than the patients who received either mIFL (7.6 months vs. 5.9 months, P = .004) or CAPIRI (7.6 months vs. 5.8 months, P = .015).
    • Patients who received CAPIRI had the highest grade 3 or higher rates of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and hand-foot syndrome.

Since the publication of these studies, the use of either FOLFOX or FOLFIRI is considered acceptable for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

When using an irinotecan-based regimen as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, FOLFIRI is preferred.[60][Level of evidence B1]

Oxaliplatin

Randomized phase III trials have addressed the equivalence of substituting capecitabine for infusional 5-FU. Two phase III studies have evaluated 5-FU/oxaliplatin (FUOX) versus capecitabine/oxaliplatin (CAPOX).[61,62]

Evidence (oxaliplatin):

  1. The AIO Colorectal Study Group randomly assigned 474 patients to either 5-FU/LV/oxaliplatin (FUFOX) or CAPOX.
    • The median PFS was 7.1 months for the CAPOX arm and 8.0 months for the FUFOX arm (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.96–1.43; P = .117), and the HR was in the prespecified equivalence range.
  2. The Spanish Grupo de Tratamiento de los Tumores Digestivos randomly assigned 348 patients to CAPOX or FUOX.[61][Level of evidence B1]
    • The TTP was 8.9 months versus 9.5 months (P = .153) and met the prespecified range for noninferiority.

When using an oxaliplatin-based regimen as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, a CAPOX regimen is not inferior to a FUOX regimen.

Before the availability of cetuximab, panitumumab, bevacizumab, and ziv-aflibercept as second-line therapy, second-line chemotherapy with irinotecan in patients treated with 5-FU/LV as first-line therapy demonstrated improved OS when compared with either infusional 5-FU or supportive care.[63-66]

Similarly, a phase III trial randomly assigned patients who progressed on irinotecan and 5-FU/LV to bolus and infusional 5-FU/LV (LV5FU2), single-agent oxaliplatin, or FOLFOX-4. The median TTP for FOLFOX-4 versus LV5FU2 was 4.6 months versus 2.7 months (stratified log-rank test, 2-sided P < .001).[67][Level of evidence B1]

Bevacizumab

Bevacizumab is a partially humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to VEGF. Bevacizumab can reasonably be added to either FOLFIRI or FOLFOX for patients undergoing first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Evidence (bevacizumab):

  1. After bevacizumab was approved, the BICC-C trial was amended, and an additional 117 patients were randomly assigned to receive FOLFIRI/bevacizumab or mIFL/bevacizumab.
    • Although the primary end point of PFS was not significantly different, patients who received FOLFIRI/bevacizumab had a significantly better OS (not yet reached with a median follow-up of 22.6 months vs. 19.2 months, P = .007).
  2. Patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to either IFL or IFL/bevacizumab.[68][Level of evidence A1]
    • The patients randomly assigned to IFL/bevacizumab experienced a significantly better PFS (10.6 months in the IFL/bevacizumab arm compared with 6.2 months in the IFL/placebo arm; HRdisease progression, 0.54; P < .001) and OS (20.3 months in the IFL/ bevacizumab arm compared with 15.6 months in the IFL/placebo arm; HRdeath , 0.66; P < .001).[68]
  3. Despite the lack of direct data, in standard practice, bevacizumab was added to FOLFOX as a standard first-line regimen based on the results of the NCCTG-N9741 trial.[69] Subsequently, in a randomized phase III study, patients with untreated, stage IV, colorectal cancer were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design to CAPOX versus FOLFOX-4, then to bevacizumab versus placebo. PFS was the primary end point.
    • In this trial, 1,401 patients were randomly assigned, and the median PFS was 9.4 months for patients who received bevacizumab and 8.0 months for the patients who received placebo (HR, 0.83; 97.5% CI, 0.72–0.95; P = .0023).[70][Level of evidence B1]
    • The median OS was 21.3 months for patients who received bevacizumab and 19.9 months for patients who received placebo (HR, 0.89; 97.5% CI, 0.76–1.03; P = .077).
    • The median PFS (intention-to-treat analysis) was 8.0 months in the pooled CAPOX-containing arms versus 8.5 months in the FOLFOX-4-containing arms (HR, 1.04; 97.5% CI, 0.93–1.16), with the upper limit of the 97.5% CI being below the predefined noninferiority margin of 1.23.[70,71]
    • The effect of bevacizumab on OS is likely to be less than what was seen in the original Hurwitz study.[68]
  4. Investigators from the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group randomly assigned patients who had progressed on 5-FU/leucovorin and irinotecan to either FOLFOX or FOLFOX /bevacizumab.
    • Patients randomly assigned to FOLFOX/bevacizumab experienced a statistically significant improvement in PFS (7.43 months vs. 4.7 months, HR, 0.61; P < .0001) and OS (12.9 months vs. 10.8 months, HR, 0.75; P = .0011).[72][Level of evidence A1]

Based on these studies, bevacizumab can reasonably be added to either FOLFIRI or FOLFOX for patients undergoing first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. A major question was whether the use of bevacizumab after first-line therapy was warranted when bevacizumab was used as a component of first-line therapy. At the 2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, data were presented from a randomized, controlled trial.[73] In the trial, 820 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, after progressing on first-line chemotherapy that included bevacizumab, were randomly assigned to chemotherapy without bevacizumab or chemotherapy with bevacizumab. Patients who received bevacizumab experienced an improved OS compared with the patients who did not receive bevacizumab. The median OS was 11.2 months for patients who received bevacizumab/chemotherapy and 9.8 months for patients who received chemotherapy without bevacizumab (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69–0.94; unstratified log-rank test, P = .0062). The median PFS was 5.7 months for patients who received bevacizumab/chemotherapy and 4.1 months for those who received chemotherapy without bevacizumab (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.59–0.78; unstratified log-rank test, P < .0001).[73][Level of evidence A1]

FOLFOXIRI

Evidence (FOLFOXIRI):

  1. The combination of FOLFOXIRI with bevacizumab was compared with FOLFIRI with bevacizumab in a randomized, phase III study of 508 patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.[74][Level of evidence B1]
    • The median PFS was 12.1 months in the FOLFOXIRI group, compared with 9.7 months in the FOLFIRI group (HRprogression, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.62–0.90; P = .003). OS was not significantly different between the groups (31.0 vs. 25.8 months; HRdeath, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–1.00; P = .054).
    • Patients who received FOLFOXIRI had significantly more grade 3 and 4 toxicities, including neutropenia, stomatitis, and peripheral neuropathy.
Cetuximab

Cetuximab is a partially humanized monoclonal antibody against EGFR. Because cetuximab affects tyrosine kinase signaling at the surface of the cell membrane, tumors with mutations causing activation of the pathway downstream of the EGFR, such as KRAS mutations, are not sensitive to its effects. The addition of cetuximab to multiagent chemotherapy improves survival in patients with colon cancers that lack a KRAS mutation (i.e., KRAS wild type). Importantly, patients with mutant KRAS tumors may experience worse outcome when cetuximab is added to multiagent chemotherapy regimens containing bevacizumab.

Evidence (cetuximab):

  1. For patients who had disease progression while receiving irinotecan-containing regimens, a randomized phase II study was performed using either cetuximab or irinotecan and cetuximab.[75][Level of evidence C3]
    • The median TTP for patients who received cetuximab was 1.5 months, compared with the median TTP of 4.2 months for patients who received irinotecan/cetuximab.[75][Level of evidence B1]
    • On the basis of this study, cetuximab was approved for use in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to 5-FU and irinotecan.
  2. The Crystal Study (EMR 62202-013 [NCT00154102]) randomly assigned 1,198 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer to FOLFIRI with or without cetuximab.[76][Level of evidence B1]
    • The addition of cetuximab was associated with an improved PFS (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72–0.99; stratified log-rank P = .048) but not OS.
    • Retrospective studies of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have suggested that responses to anti-EGFR antibody therapy are confined to patients with tumors that harbor wild types of KRAS (i.e., lack activating mutations at codon 12 or 13 of the KRAS gene).
    • A subset analysis evaluating efficacy vis-à-vis KRAS status was done in patients enrolled in the Crystal Study. There was a significant interaction for KRAS mutation status and treatment for tumor response (P = .03) but not for PFS (P = .07). Among patients with KRAS wild-type tumors, the HR favored the FOLFIRI/cetuximab group (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50–0.94).
  3. In a randomized trial, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer received capecitabine/oxaliplatin/bevacizumab with or without cetuximab.[77][Level of evidence B1]
    • The median PFS was 9.4 months in the group who received cetuximab and 10.7 months in the group who did not receive cetuximab (P = .01).
    • In a subset analysis, cetuximab-treated patients with tumors bearing a mutated KRAS gene had significantly decreased PFS compared with cetuximab-treated patients with wild-type KRAS tumors (8.1 months vs. 10.5 months; P = .04).
    • Cetuximab-treated patients with mutated KRAS tumors had a significantly shorter PFS compared with patients with mutated KRAS tumors who did not receive cetuximab (8.1 months vs. 12.5 months; P = .003) and a significantly shorter OS (17.2 months vs. 24.9 months; P = .03).
  4. The Medical Research Council (MRC) COIN trial (NCT00182715) sought to determine if adding cetuximab to combination chemotherapy with a fluoropyrimidine and oxaliplatin in first-line treatment for patients with KRAS wild-type tumors was beneficial.[78,79] In addition, the MRC sought to evaluate the effect of intermittent chemotherapy versus continuous chemotherapy. The 1,630 patients were randomly assigned to three treatment groups:
    • Arm A: fluoropyrimidine/oxaliplatin.
    • Arm B: fluoropyrimidine/oxaliplatin/cetuximab.
    • Arm C: intermittent fluoropyrimidine/oxaliplatin.

    The comparisons between arms A and B and arms A and C were analyzed and published separately.[78,79]

    1. In patients with KRAS wild-type tumors (arm A, n = 367; arm B, n = 362), OS did not differ between treatment groups (median survival, 17.9 months [interquartile range (IQR) 10.3–29.2] in the control group vs. 17.0 months [IQR, 9.4–30.1] in the cetuximab group; HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.87–1.23; P = .67). Similarly, there was no effect on PFS (8.6 months [IQR, 5.0–12.5] in the control group versus 8.6 months [IQR, 5.1–13.8] in the cetuximab group; HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.82–1.12; P = .60).[78,79][Level of evidence A1]
    2. The reasons for lack of benefit in adding cetuximab are unclear. Subset analyses suggest that the use of capecitabine was associated with an inferior outcome, and the use of second-line therapy was less frequent in patients treated with cetuximab.
    3. There was no difference between the continuously treated patients (arm A) and the intermittently treated patients (arm C). Median survival in the intent-to-treat population (n = 815 in both groups) was 15.8 months (IQR, 9.4–26.1) in arm A and 14.4 months (IQR, 8.0–24.7) in arm C (HR, 1.084; 80% CI, 1.008–1.165). In the per-protocol population, which included only those patients who were free from progression at 12 weeks and randomly assigned to continue treatment or go on a chemotherapy holiday (arm A, n = 467; arm C, n = 511), median survival was 19.6 months (IQR, 13.0–28.1) in arm A and 18.0 months (IQR, 12.1–29.3) in arm C (HR, 1.087; 95% CI, 0.986–1.198).
    4. The upper limits of CIs for HRs in both analyses were greater than the predefined noninferiority boundary. While intermittent chemotherapy was not deemed noninferior, there appeared to be clinically insignificant differences in patient outcomes.
  5. The OPUS study sought to evaluate the effect of adding cetuximab to first-line treatment with a FOLFOX regimen in an open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase II study of patients with EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer.[80]
    • In the trial, 344 patients were randomly assigned to receive FOLFOX-4 alone or FOLFOX-4/cetuximab. There was no statistically significant difference in response rate or PFS.
    • On subset analysis, patients with KRAS wild-type tumors were analyzed separately. In the KRAS wild-type tumor population, there was a statistically significant improvement in response rate (61% vs. 37%, P = .011) and PFS (7.7 months vs. 7.2 months, P = .0163).
    • On subset analysis, patients with KRAS mutant tumors who received FOLFOX-4/cetuximab had a statistically significant worse PFS than patients with KRAS mutant tumors who received FOLFOX-4 (5.5 months vs. 8.6 months, P = .0192).[80][Level of evidence B1]
Ziv-aflibercept

Ziv-aflibercept is an anti-VEGF molecule and has been evaluated as a component of second-line therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Evidence (ziv-aflibercept):

  1. In one trial, 1,226 patients were randomly assigned to receive ziv-aflibercept (4 mg/kg intravenously [IV]) or placebo every 2 weeks in combination with FOLFIRI.[81][Level of evidence A2]
    • Patients who received ziv-aflibercept/FOLFIRI had significantly improved OS rates, with median survival times of 13.50 months compared with patients who received placebo/FOLFIRI, with median survival times of 12.06 months (HR, 0.817; 95.34% CI, 0.713–0.937; P = .0032).
    • Patients who received ziv-aflibercept/FOLFIRI also had significantly improved PFS rates, with median PFS rates of 6.90 months compared with patients who received placebo/FOLFIRI, with median PFS rates of 4.67 months (HR, 0.758; 95% CI, 0.661–0.869; P < .0001).
    • On the basis of these results, the use of ziv-aflibercept/FOLFIRI is an acceptable second-line regimen for patients previously treated with FOLFOX-based chemotherapy. Whether to continue bevacizumab or initiate ziv-aflibercept in second-line therapy has not been addressed yet in any clinical trial, and there are no data available.
Ramucirumab

Ramucirumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2.

Evidence (ramucirumab):

  1. In the randomized, unblinded, phase III RAISE study (NCT01183780), 1,072 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer who had progressed on first-line chemotherapy were randomly assigned to FOLFIRI with or without ramucirumab (8 mg/kg).[82][Level of evidence A1]
    • Patients assigned to FOLFIRI/ramucirumab had a significant improvement in median OS (13.3 months vs. 11.7 months; HR, 0.84; P = .0219) and PFS (5.7 months vs. 4.5 months; HR, 0.793; P = .0005).
    • Grade 3 adverse events were more common in the ramucirumab group, including grade 3 neutropenia.
    • On the basis of these data, FOLFIRI/ramucirumab is an acceptable second-line regimen for patients previously treated with FOLFOX/bevacizumab. Whether to continue bevacizumab in second-line chemotherapy or use ramucirumab in second-line chemotherapy has not yet been addressed in a clinical trial.
Panitumumab

Panitumumab is a fully humanized antibody against the EGFR. The FDA approved panitumumab for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer refractory to chemotherapy.[83] In clinical trials, panitumumab demonstrated efficacy as a single agent or in combination therapy, which was consistent with the effects on PFS and OS with cetuximab. There appears to be a consistent class effect.

Evidence (panitumumab):

  1. In a phase III trial, patients with chemotherapy-refractory colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to panitumumab or best supportive care.[83][Level of evidence B1]
    • Patients who received panitumumab experienced an improved PFS (8 weeks vs. 7.3 weeks; HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.44–0.66; P < .0001).
    • There was no difference in OS, which was thought to be the result of 76% of patients on best supportive care crossing over to panitumumab.
  2. In the Panitumumab Randomized Trial in Combination With Chemotherapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer to Determine Efficacy (PRIME) study [NCT00364013], 1,183 patients were randomly assigned to FOLFOX-4 with or without panitumumab as first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. The study was amended to enlarge the sample size to address patients with the KRAS wild-type tumors and patients with mutant KRAS tumors separately.[84][Level of evidence B1]
    1. For patients with KRAS wild-type tumors, a statistically significant improvement in PFS was observed in those who received panitumumab/FOLFOX-4 compared with those who received only FOLFOX-4 (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66–0.97; stratified log-rank P = .02).
    2. The median PFS was 9.6 months (95% CI, 9.2–11.1) for patients who received panitumumab/FOLFOX-4 and 8.0 months (95% CI, 7.5–9.3) for patients who received FOLFOX-4. OS was not significantly different between the groups (HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.67–1.02; P = .072).
    3. For patients with mutant KRAS tumors, there was worse PFS with the addition of panitumumab (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04–1.62; stratified log-rank P = .02).
      • The median PFS was 7.3 months (95% CI, 6.3–8.0) for panitumumab/FOLFOX-4 and 8.8 months (95% CI, 7.7–9.4) for FOLFOX-4 alone.
    4. Subsequently, a retrospective analysis evaluated patients with wild-type KRAS exon 2 status for other KRAS and BRAF mutations.[85][Level of evidence C1]
      • Of the 620 patients who were initially identified as not having a mutation in exon 2 of KRAS, 108 patients (17%) were found to have additional RAS mutations and 53 patients (8%) were found to have BRAF mutations. In a retrospective analysis, patients without any RAS or BRAF mutations had a longer PFS (10.8 months vs. 9.2 months, P = .002) and OS (28.3 months vs. 20.9 months, P = .02) when assigned to the FOLFOX-4/panitumumab arm than the patients assigned to the FOLFOX-4 arm.
  3. Similarly, the addition of panitumumab to a regimen of FOLFOX/bevacizumab resulted in a worse PFS and worse toxicity compared with a regimen of FOLFOX/bevacizumab alone in patients not selected for KRAS mutation in metastatic colon cancer (11.4 months vs. 10.0 months, HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.06–1.52).[86][Level of evidence B1]
  4. In another study (NCT00339183), patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had already received a fluoropyrimidine regimen were randomly assigned to either FOLFIRI or FOLFIRI/panitumumab.[87][Level of evidence B1]
    1. In a post hoc analysis, patients with KRAS wild-type tumors experienced a statistically significant PFS advantage (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.59–0.90; stratified log-rank P = .004).
      • The median PFS was 5.9 months (95% CI, 5.5–6.7) for panitumumab/FOLFIRI and 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.7–5.3) for FOLFIRI alone.
    2. OS was not significantly different. Patients with mutant KRAS tumors experienced no benefit from the addition of panitumumab.
Anti-EGFR antibody versus anti-VEGF antibody with first-line chemotherapy

In the management of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer, it is unknown whether patients with KRAS wild-type cancer should receive an anti-EGFR antibody with chemotherapy or an anti-VEGF antibody with chemotherapy. Two studies attempted to answer this question.[88,89]

Evidence (anti-EGFR antibody vs. anti-VEGF antibody with first-line chemotherapy)

  1. The FIRE-3 study (NCT00433927) randomly assigned 592 patients with KRAS exon 2 wild-type tumors who were previously untreated to FOLFIRI/cetuximab (297 patients) or FOLFIRI/bevacizumab (295 patients). The primary end point of the study was objective response rate.[88][Level of evidence A1]
    • The objective response rate was not significantly different between the groups (objective response rate, 62.0%; 95% CI, 56.2%–67.5% vs. objective response rate, 58.0%; 95% CI, 52.1%–63.7%; OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.85–1.64; P = .18).
    • The median PFS was 10.0 months (95% CI, 8.8–10.8) in the cetuximab group and 10.3 months (95% CI, 9.8–11.3) in the bevacizumab group (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.88–1.26; P = .55).
    • The median OS was 28.7 months (95% CI, 24.0–36.6) in the cetuximab group compared with 25.0 months (22.7–27.6) in the bevacizumab group (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62–0.96; P = .017).
    • In a post hoc analysis of patients with expanded RAS wild-type tumors (sequencing for mutational hot spots within KRAS and NRAS genes, including exon 2 codons 12 and 13; exon 3 codons 59 and 61; and exon 4 codons 117 and 146), the median OS was 33.1 months (95% CI, 24.5–39.4) in the cetuximab group compared with 25.0 months (95% CI, 23.0–28.1) in the bevacizumab group (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54–0.90; P = .0059).[90]
    • Of note, only 52% of patients assigned to the bevacizumab arm subsequently received cetuximab or panitumumab.[91]
  2. The Cancer and Leukemia Group B Intergroup study 80405 (NCT00265850) was presented at the ASCO meeting in 2014. This study randomly assigned 2,334 previously untreated patients with KRAS wild-type cancer to chemotherapy (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI) plus bevacizumab or chemotherapy/cetuximab. OS was the primary end point.[89][Level of evidence B1]
    • There was no statistically significant difference in OS among the patients assigned to bevacizumab or cetuximab (for OS differences, chemotherapy/bevacizumab = 29.04 [25.66–31.21] months vs. chemotherapy/cetuximab = 29.93 [27.56–31.21] months; HR, 0.92 [0.78–1.09]; P = .34).

On the basis of these two studies, no apparent significant difference is evident about starting treatment with chemotherapy/bevacizumab or chemotherapy/cetuximab in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer. However, in patients with KRAS wild-type cancer, administration of an anti-EGFR antibody during the course of management improves OS.

Trifluridine-tipiracil

Trifluridine-tipiracil (Lonsurf; also called TAS-102) is an orally administered combination of a thymidine-based nucleic acid analogue, trifluridine, and a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor, tipiracil hydrochloride. Trifluridine, in its triphosphate form, inhibits thymidylate synthase; therefore, trifluridine, in this form, has an antitumor effect. Tipiracil hydrochloride is a potent inhibitor of thymidine phosphorylase, which actively degrades trifluridine. The combination of trifluridine and tipiracil allows for adequate plasma levels of trifluridine.

Evidence (trifluridine-tipiracil):

  1. A phase III, double-blind study (RECOURSE [NCT01607957]) randomly assigned 800 stage IV colorectal cancer patients whose cancer had been refractory to two previous therapies. Patients were required to have received 5-FU, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, bevacizumab and, if the patients had KRAS wild-type cancer, cetuximab or panitumumab. Patients were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to receive best supportive care plus trifluridine-tipiracil (n = 534) or placebo (n = 266). The median age of patients was 63 years, and most patients (60%–63%) received four or more previous lines of therapy. All patients had formerly received fluoropyrimidine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab, and 52% of them had received an EGFR inhibitor. Approximately 20% of the patients had received previous treatment with regorafenib.[92][Level of evidence A1]
    • Trifluridine-tipiracil was administered at 35 mg/m2 twice daily with meals for 5 days, with 2 days of rest for 2 weeks, followed by a 14-day rest period.
    • The primary end point of the study was OS. The median OS for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who received trifluridine-tipiracil was 7.1 months compared with 5.3 months for those who received a placebo (HR, 0.68; P < .0001).
    • The median PFS time in the trifluridine-tipiracil arm was 2 months versus 1.7 months with a placebo (HR, 0.48; P < .0001).
    • Secondary end points focused on PFS, overall response rate, and disease control rate.
    • The overall response rate was 1.6% with trifluridine-tipiracil, which consisted of a complete response in one patient and partial responses in other patients. The overall response rate with a placebo was 0.4% (P = .29).

The FDA approved trifluridine-tipiracil for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, based on the results of the RECOURSE trial.

Evidence (combination of trifluridine-tipiracil and bevacizumab):

  1. A phase III, international, multi-institutional trial (SUNLIGHT [NCT04737187]) included 492 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer whose cancer was refractory to up to two prior chemotherapy regimens. Patients were required to have received 5-FU, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, an anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody, or an anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody (for patients with RAS wild-type disease). Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy (n = 246) or trifluridine-tipiracil combined with bevacizumab (n = 246). The median patient age was 62 years for the combination arm, and 64 years for the monotherapy arm and most patients (93% and 91%) had received two prior lines of therapy. Over 98% of patients in both arms had received 5-FU, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin, and over 93% of patients with RAS wild-type mutations in both arms had received anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy. The median follow-up was 14.2 months. Trifluridine-tipiracil was given at 35 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 5 and 8 to 12 of a 28-day cycle. Bevacizumab was given on days 1 and 15 of each cycle at 5 mg/kg. The primary end point of the study was OS.[93]
    • The median OS was 10.8 months for patients who received trifluridine-tipiracil and bevacizumab and 7.5 months for patients who received trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy (HR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.49–0.77; P < .001).[93][Level of evidence A1]
    • OS was significant across subgroups, including patients with RAS mutations and wild-type mutations, patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) and microsatellite stability (MSS) cancers, and both for patients previously treated with bevacizumab and bevacizumab-naïve patients.
    • The median PFS was 5.6 months in the combination arm and 2.4 months in the trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy arm (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.36–0.54; P < .001).
    • Secondary end points focused on PFS, overall response rate, and safety.
    • The overall response rate was 6.1% for the combination arm and 1.2% for the monotherapy arm.
    • Adverse events leading to therapy discontinuation were observed in 12.6% of patients in both arms. Dose reductions occurred in 16.3% of patients in the combination group and 12.2% of patients in the trifluridine-tipiracil monotherapy group. The most common adverse event was neutropenia, with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia observed in 43% of patients in the combination arm and 32% of patients in the monotherapy arm.

The FDA approved the combination of trifluridine-tipiracil and bevacizumab for the treatment of patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer based on the results of the SUNLIGHT trial.

Regorafenib

Regorafenib is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinase pathways, including VEGF. In 2012, the FDA approved regorafenib for patients who had progressed on previous therapy.

Evidence (regorafenib):

  1. The safety and effectiveness of regorafenib were evaluated in a single, clinical study of 760 patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive regorafenib or a placebo in addition to the best supportive care.[94,95]
    • Patients treated with regorafenib had a statistically significant improvement in OS (6.4 months in the regorafenib group vs. 5.0 months in the placebo group; HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64–0.94; one-sided P = .0052).

With the improved OS from the combination of trifluridine-tipiracil and bevacizumab discussed above, regorafenib is now often considered a fourth-line or later option for treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Encorafenib with cetuximab in patients with BRAF V600E mutations

BRAF V600E mutations occur in about 10% of metastatic colorectal cancers and are an indicator of poor prognosis. Unlike in melanoma, BRAF inhibitor monotherapy has not shown a benefit in colorectal cancer, and multiple studies have evaluated concurrent targeting of the EGFR-MAPK pathway.

Evidence (encorafenib with cetuximab in patients with BRAF V600E mutations):

  1. Encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor), binimetinib (MEK inhibitor), and cetuximab (EGFR inhibitor): In the international, open-label, randomized, phase III BEACON trial, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and BRAF V600E mutations who previously received one or two treatment regimens were enrolled.[96] The trial randomly assigned 665 patients in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive one of the following:
    • Triplet therapy: encorafenib (300 mg PO daily), binimetinib (45 mg PO twice daily), and cetuximab (400 mg/m2 IV loading dose followed by 250 mg/m2 IV weekly) (n = 224).
    • Doublet therapy: encorafenib and cetuximab (as per triplet therapy dosing) (n = 220).
    • Control group: FOLFIRI or irinotecan (every 2 weeks) with cetuximab (400 mg/m2 IV loading dose followed by 250 mg/m2 IV weekly) (n = 221).
    The primary end points were OS and objective response in the triplet-therapy group when compared with the control group.
    • The OS was 9.0 months in the triplet-therapy arm and 5.4 months in the control group (HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.39–0.70, P < .0001).[96][Level of evidence A1]
    • Grade 3 or higher side effects occurred in 58% of patients in the triplet-therapy arm, with 10% of patients experiencing diarrhea and 11% of patients experiencing anemia. Grade 3 or higher side effects occurred in 50% of patients in the doublet-therapy arm and 61% of patients in the control arm. Fourteen percent of patients who received the doublet regimen developed melanocytic nevi.
    Updated data were presented in abstract form in May 2020:[97]
    • The median OS was 9.3 months in both the triplet-therapy and doublet-therapy arms and 5.9 months in the control arm (HR, 0.60 for triplet therapy vs. control; 95% CI, 0.47–0.75; HR, 0.61 for doublet therapy vs. control; 95% CI, 0.48–0.77).
    • The objective response rate was 26.8% for patients who received triplet therapy (95% CI, 21.1%–33.1%) and 19.5% for patients who received doublet therapy (95% CI, 14.5%–25.4%).

Based on these data, the FDA approved the combination of encorafenib with cetuximab for patients with previously treated BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colon cancer in 2020.

Sotorasib with panitumumab for patients with KRAS G12C mutations

KRAS G12C mutations are found in approximately 4% of patients with colorectal cancer and are associated with poor prognosis.[98-101] Sotorasib and adagrasib are two of the first KRAS G12C–specific inhibitors to show benefit in patients with KRAS G12C–mutated cancers.[102,103] Given that EGFR reactivation is a well-described resistance mechanism to KRAS G12C inhibition, sotorasib was combined with the anti-EGFR antibody panitumumab in patients with colorectal cancer and KRAS G12C mutations.

  1. The phase III, multicenter, open-label CodeBreaK 300 trial (NCT05198934) included patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and KRAS G12C mutations who previously received treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.[102] The trial randomly assigned 160 patients 1:1:1 to receive one of the following:
    • Doublet therapy with sotorasib 960 mg once daily plus panitumumab (6 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks) (n = 53).
    • Doublet therapy with sotorasib 240 mg once daily plus panitumumab (6 mg/kg IV every 2 weeks) (n = 53).
    • Investigator's choice standard-of-care therapy with trifluridine-tipiracil (35 mg/m2) or regorafenib (160 mg once daily) (control group).

    The primary end point was PFS assessed by blinded independent central review according to RECIST 1.1. Secondary end points included OS and objective response rate.

    • The median PFS was 5.6 months (95% CI, 4.2–6.3) in the 960 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group, 3.9 months (95% CI, 3.7–5.8) in the 240 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group, and 2.2 months (95% CI, 1.9–3.9) in the standard-of-care group.[102][Level of evidence B1]
    • The HR for progression of disease or death was 0.49 (95% CI, 0.3–0.8; P = .006) for the 960 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group and 0.58 (95% CI, 0.36–0.98; P = .03) for the 240 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group.
    • The objective response rate was 26.4% (95% CI, 15.3%–40.3%) in the 960 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group, 5.7% (95% CI, 1.2%–15.7%) in the 240 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group, and 0% (95% CI, 0.0%–6.6%) in the standard-of-care group. OS data are still not mature. However, at data cutoff the HRs were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.4–1.45) for the 960 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group and 0.91 (95% CI, 0.48–1.71) for the 240 mg-sotorasib/panitumumab group when compared with standard-of-care therapy.
    • Grade 3 or higher side effects occurred in 35.8% of patients who received 960 mg sotorasib/panitumumab, 30.2% of patients who received 240 mg sotorasib/panitumumab, and 43.1% of patients who received the standard of care. The most common adverse effects with combined sotorasib and panitumumab therapy were skin-related toxicities and hypomagnesemia.

Immunotherapy

Approximately 4% of patients with stage IV colorectal cancer have tumors that are mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) or microsatellite unstable/MSI-H. The MSI-H phenotype is associated with germline defects in the MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 genes and is the primary phenotype observed in tumors from patients with hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch syndrome. Patients can also have the MSI-H phenotype because one of these genes was silenced via DNA methylation. Testing for microsatellite instability can be done with molecular genetic tests, which look for microsatellite instability in the tumor tissue, or with immunohistochemistry, which looks for the loss of mismatch repair proteins. MSI-H status has historically been prognostic of increased survival for patients with earlier-stage disease and since 2015, has also been found to predict tumor response to checkpoint inhibition.

The FDA approved pembrolizumab for patients with treatment-naïve, metastatic, dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer in 2020. Studies regarding first-line treatment with dual checkpoint inhibitors are ongoing. The FDA approved the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibodies pembrolizumab and nivolumab in 2017 for patients with microsatellite-unstable tumors who had previously received 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan-based therapy. In 2018, the FDA granted accelerated approval for the combination of nivolumab with ipilimumab (a CTLA-4 inhibitor) to treat MSI-H colorectal cancers that progressed on prior 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan-based therapies.

First-line immunotherapy
Pembrolizumab monotherapy

Evidence (pembrolizumab monotherapy):

  1. In the phase III, open-label, international, randomized KEYNOTE-177 trial (NCT02563002), 307 patients with treatment-naïve MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) or chemotherapy (FOLFIRI or modified FOLFOX-6 with or without bevacizumab or cetuximab).[104]
    • The median PFS was 16.5 months for patients who received pembrolizumab and 8.2 months for patients who received chemotherapy (HR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45–0.80; P = .0002).[104][Level of evidence A3]
    • The PFS in prespecified subgroups showed HRs that favored the pembrolizumab arm, except in patients with KRAS/NRAS mutations.
    • The objective response rate was 43.8% in the pembrolizumab arm and 33.3% in the chemotherapy arm. The median duration of response was not reached in the pembrolizumab arm (range, 2.3–41.4 months) and was 10.6 months in the chemotherapy arm (range, 2.8–37.5 months).
    • Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 56% of patients who received pembrolizumab (with 9% experiencing grade 3 or higher infusion-related adverse events), compared with 78% of patients who received chemotherapy.
    • A final review of OS, presented in abstract form, showed that median OS was not reached in the pembrolizumab arm and was 36.7 months in the chemotherapy arm (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53–1.03; P = .0359).[105]
Nivolumab and ipilimumab

Evidence (nivolumab and ipilimumab):

  1. In a single-arm cohort of the phase II, multicenter CheckMate-142 study (NCT02060188) presented in abstract form, 45 treatment-naïve patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer received nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) with ipilimumab (1 mg/kg every 6 weeks). The primary end point was objective response rate.[106]
    • The objective response rate was 69% among all enrolled patients and 80% for patients with KRAS mutations (n = 10).[106][Level of evidence C2]
    • At a 2-year clinical follow-up, the median PFS and OS had not been reached.
  2. In the CheckMate 8HW trial (NCT04008030), published in abstract form, 303 patients who had received various lines of treatment were randomly assigned to receive either nivolumab and ipilimumab (n = 202) or chemotherapy alone (n = 101). Some patients were also randomly assigned to receive nivolumab, but results from these patients were not presented in the abstract. Treatments were continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (all arms), or for up to 2 years (nivolumab-ipilimumab arm). A total of 171 patients who received nivolumab and ipilimumab and 84 patients who received chemotherapy alone were centrally confirmed to have dMMR/MSI-H metastatic colorectal cancer.[107]
    • At a median follow-up of 31.5 months, the PFS was superior for patients who received nivolumab and ipilimumab compared with those who received chemotherapy alone (HR, 0.21; 97.91% CI, 0.13–0.35; P < .0001). Of note, in the chemotherapy arm, 67% of patients received subsequent immunotherapy.
    • Two grade 5 deaths occurred in the nivolumab-ipilimumab arm. Grade 3 to 4 events occurred in 23% of patients in the nivolumab-ipilimumab arm and 48% of patients in the chemotherapy-alone arm.
Second-line immunotherapy
Pembrolizumab monotherapy

Evidence (pembrolizumab monotherapy):

  1. The FDA approval of pembrolizumab monotherapy was based on data from 149 patients with MSI-H or dMMR cancers enrolled across five uncontrolled, multicohort, multicenter, single-arm clinical trials. Ninety patients had colorectal cancer, and 59 patients were diagnosed with 1 of 14 other cancer types. Patients received either 200 mg of pembrolizumab every 3 weeks or 10 mg/kg of pembrolizumab every 2 weeks. Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression occurred. The major efficacy outcome measures were objective response rate (assessed by blinded independent central radiologists’ review in accordance with Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] 1.1) and response duration.
    • The objective response rate was 39.6% (95% CI, 31.7%–47.9%).
    • Responses lasted 6 months or longer for 78% of patients who responded to pembrolizumab. There were 11 complete responses and 48 partial responses.
    • The objective response rate was similar whether patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (36%) or a different cancer (46% across the 14 other cancer types).
Nivolumab monotherapy

Evidence (nivolumab monotherapy):

  1. In the CheckMate-142 trial (NCT02060188), 74 patients with previously treated dMMR/MSI-H colorectal cancer were enrolled in an open-label, single-arm, phase II study to receive nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks). The primary end point was objective response as per RECIST 1.1.[108]
    • The objective response rate was 31.1% (95% CI, 20.8%–42.9%).
    • Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 21% of patients.
Nivolumab and ipilimumab

Evidence (nivolumab and ipilimumab):

  1. CheckMate-142 (NCT02060188) was a multicenter, open-label, phase II trial with a cohort for patients with recurrent or metastatic dMMR and/or MSI-H colorectal cancer who had progressed on, were intolerant of, or declined at least one line of chemotherapy (including 5-FU and oxaliplatin and/or irinotecan). The trial enrolled 119 patients who received four doses of nivolumab (3 mg/kg) and ipilimumab (1 mg/kg) every 3 weeks (induction), then nivolumab (3 mg/kg IV) every 2 weeks (maintenance). The primary end point was objective response rate.[108]
    • The objective response rate was 55% (95% CI, 45.2%–63.8%).
    • Among patients experiencing a response, 83% had responses lasting more than 6 months.
    • Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 32% of patients.

Current Clinical Trials

Use our advanced clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are now enrolling patients. The search can be narrowed by location of the trial, type of treatment, name of the drug, and other criteria. General information about clinical trials is also available.

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  85. Douillard JY, Oliner KS, Siena S, et al.: Panitumumab-FOLFOX4 treatment and RAS mutations in colorectal cancer. N Engl J Med 369 (11): 1023-34, 2013. [PUBMED Abstract]
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Latest Updates to This Summary (09/06/2024)

The PDQ cancer information summaries are reviewed regularly and updated as new information becomes available. This section describes the latest changes made to this summary as of the date above.

Treatment of Stage IV and Recurrent Colon Cancer

Added text about outcomes for patients with unresectable liver metastases who undergo liver transplant. The optimal patient cohort for this therapy is still being determined, but in general, the goal is to achieve good initial systemic control with chemotherapy, followed by transplant (cited Hernandez-Alejandro et al. as reference 18 and level of evidence C3).

Added text about the results of the TRANSMET study, which randomly assigned 94 patients to receive either chemotherapy and liver transplant or chemotherapy alone (cited Adam et al. as reference 19 and level of evidence A1).

Added text about the results of the CheckMate 8HW study, which randomly assigned 303 patients to receive either nivolumab and ipilimumab or chemotherapy alone (cited Lenz et al. as reference 107).

This summary is written and maintained by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of NCI. The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH. More information about summary policies and the role of the PDQ Editorial Boards in maintaining the PDQ summaries can be found on the About This PDQ Summary and PDQ® Cancer Information for Health Professionals pages.

About This PDQ Summary

Purpose of This Summary

This PDQ cancer information summary for health professionals provides comprehensive, peer-reviewed, evidence-based information about the treatment of colon cancer. It is intended as a resource to inform and assist clinicians in the care of their patients. It does not provide formal guidelines or recommendations for making health care decisions.

Reviewers and Updates

This summary is reviewed regularly and updated as necessary by the PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board, which is editorially independent of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The summary reflects an independent review of the literature and does not represent a policy statement of NCI or the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Board members review recently published articles each month to determine whether an article should:

  • be discussed at a meeting,
  • be cited with text, or
  • replace or update an existing article that is already cited.

Changes to the summaries are made through a consensus process in which Board members evaluate the strength of the evidence in the published articles and determine how the article should be included in the summary.

The lead reviewers for Colon Cancer Treatment are:

  • Amit Chowdhry, MD, PhD (University of Rochester Medical Center)
  • Leon Pappas, MD, PhD (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Any comments or questions about the summary content should be submitted to Cancer.gov through the NCI website's Email Us. Do not contact the individual Board Members with questions or comments about the summaries. Board members will not respond to individual inquiries.

Levels of Evidence

Some of the reference citations in this summary are accompanied by a level-of-evidence designation. These designations are intended to help readers assess the strength of the evidence supporting the use of specific interventions or approaches. The PDQ Adult Treatment Editorial Board uses a formal evidence ranking system in developing its level-of-evidence designations.

Permission to Use This Summary

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The preferred citation for this PDQ summary is:

PDQ® Adult Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Colon Cancer Treatment. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal/hp/colon-treatment-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>. [PMID: 26389297]

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Based on the strength of the available evidence, treatment options may be described as either “standard” or “under clinical evaluation.” These classifications should not be used as a basis for insurance reimbursement determinations. More information on insurance coverage is available on Cancer.gov on the Managing Cancer Care page.

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