Dr. Pietrantonio on Survival Rates in Colorectal Cancer

Filippo Pietrantonio, MD, Department of Medical Oncology, Medical Oncology Unit, Milan Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, discusses survival rates in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

The survival of such patients, says Pietrantonio, is generally poor. Typically, clinical trial data show reported survival rates of up to 5 months. However, he explains, there is some heterogeneity in clinical outcomes, as some patients may actually die sooner, while other patients may have longer survivals even if their disease is defined as refractory.

In order to improve these survival rates, Pietrantonio says that identifying the correct patients that are able to receive further treatments is key. This could be accomplished mainly through clinical selection. Currently, most available drugs cannot rely on biomarkers, thus prognostic stratification is, at present, the most important thing to do.