The effectiveness of three months EGFR-CTH therapy in palliative colorectal cancer

The rising burden of colorectal cancer with a high prevalence of advanced stages of new-onset is reported worldwide. While applied, chemotherapy can extend patients' survival, and proper tailoring is paramount. Based on computed tomography results, the study aimed to point out potential prognostic factors of complete or partial response to the initial three months of chemotherapy in palliative colorectal (CRC) cancer.

There were 133 (82 (62%) male and 51 (38%) female) consecutive patients with a median age of 70 (64-74) years who underwent palliative treatment due to the advanced stage of oncological gastrointestinal tract disease between 2022-2024 at the Clinical Oncology and Immuno-Oncology Department. After propensity score matching, 83 (52 (63%) males) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients with a median age of 69 (64-74) years were enrolled in the retrospective analysis. The chemotherapy was based on computed tomography (CT) imaging confirming the end-stage cancer disease.

The multivariable model revealed chemotherapy combined with anti-epidermal growth factors receptor drug (EGFR-CTH) as the lone predictive factor for metastasis regression [odds ratio (OR): 3.59, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-10.91, p = 0.024]. The receiver operating characteristic curve revealed a predictive value of EGFR-CTH with the area under the curve of 0.663, yielding a sensitivity of 58.1%, specificity of 72.5%, and precision of 0.694.

The EGFR-CTH protocol can be regarded as an effective palliative therapy for terminal colon and rectal cancer disease. The EGFR-CTH protocol contributes to 3.6 times higher probability of CT-proven tumor regression within three months of treatment. Large-volume studies are required to confirm the outcomes presented.