Efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 in treating metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) using the most recent data available. The literature on the efficacy and safety of TAS-102 versus placebo and/or best supportive care (BSC) in mCRC was obtained through a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases through January 2023. Identify the included literature and extract pertinent data, such as the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure (TTF), disease control rate (DCR), incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs). There were eight eligible articles that included 2903 patients (1964 TAS-102 versus 939 Placebo and/or BSC). In this meta-analysis, TAS-102 treatment resulted in longer OS, PFS, TTF, and higher DCR in patients with mCRC versus placebo and/or BSC. TAS-102 improved OS and PFS in subgroup analyses of mCRC patients with KRAS wild-type and KRAS mutant-type. In addition, TAS-102 did not increase the incidence of serious adverse events. TAS-102 can enhance the prognosis of mCRC patients whose standard therapy has failed, regardless of KRAS mutation status, and its safety is acceptable.