How effective is regorafenib?

Category: Health

Regorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor used to treat various types of cancer, including metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and soft tissue sarcomas. It works by blocking several proteins that help tumors grow and spread, including vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs), platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFRs) and other kinases involved in tumor angiogenesis and cell proliferation.

Effectiveness of regorafenib:

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC):

Regorafenib has been shown to be effective in patients with mCRC who have progressed after other treatments, including chemotherapy (eg, fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan) and biological therapies (eg, bevacizumab, cetuximab or panitumumab).

In clinical trials, regorafenib improved overall survival (OS) by about 1 to 2 months compared with placebo. For example, in the CORRECT trial, the median overall survival of patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib was 6.4 months, compared with 5 months for those taking placebo and Regorafenib Price in Usa.

It also improved progression-free survival (PFS), but the overall benefit, although statistically significant, is considered modest.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC):

Regorafenib is approved for advanced liver cancer (HCC) for patients who have failed first-line treatments such as sorafenib. It has shown significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in these patients.

In the RESORCE trial, regorafenib increased median overall survival from 10.6 months (on placebo) to 13.8 months in patients with HCC who were previously treated with sorafenib.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST):

Regorafenib is used for GIST in patients who have progressed on imatinib and sunitinib, two other tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

In clinical trials, regorafenib has shown significant activity in prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with GIST. In the GRID trial, regorafenib improved PFS by more than 4 months compared with placebo, making it an important option for patients with resistant GISTs.

Soft tissue sarcoma:

For advanced soft tissue sarcoma after failure of previous treatments, regorafenib has demonstrated efficacy in increasing progression-free survival (PFS). In the RESOLVE trial, regorafenib showed an improvement in PFS by approximately 2.5 months compared with placebo, offering an additional treatment option for these patients.

General considerations:

Modest benefit: While regorafenib has demonstrated efficacy in several cancer types, the overall survival benefit is modest in most cases, typically extending life by several months. Its role is often in patients who have exhausted other treatment options.

Side effects: Regorafenib is associated with side effects, including fatigue, diarrhea, rash, hand-foot skin reaction, hypertension, and liver enzyme abnormalities. These side effects can affect quality of life, and dose adjustments may be necessary to manage them.

Conclusions:
Regorafenib is an important treatment option for patients with certain cancers who have not responded to other treatments, providing modest but meaningful benefits in terms of overall survival and progression-free survival. Its effectiveness varies depending on the type of cancer, with the most significant benefits seen in mCRC, HCC, GIST and soft tissue sarcoma. However, its use is often reserved for later stages of remission, when other treatments have failed. Regular monitoring and management of side effects are important to optimise its benefits and Regorafenib Price in Philippines.