Dr. Raghav on Treatment Considerations With Regorafenib and TAS-102 in CRC

Kanwal Raghav, MBBS, MD, associate professor, Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the safety profiles of regorafenib (Stivarga) and trifluridine/tipiracil (Lonsurf; TAS-102), and selecting between the agents for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

The safety profiles of regorafenib and TAS-102 are often used to inform selection between the agents, according to Raghav. If a patient has received chemotherapy and is experiencing bone marrow depression, they should not receive treatment with TAS-102 due to the additional bone marrow toxicity associated with the agent, Raghav explains. Furthermore, if a patient has undergone peritoneal surgery and experienced diarrhea on prior lines of treatment, regorafenib would not be a favorable option, Raghav adds.

Patient selection is key, and it is important to base decisions on what the trials have demonstrated, Raghav says. Patients who are selected for regorafenib or TAS-102 should have good performance status to ensure the drugs are effective as possible, Raghav concludes.