Clinical management of regorafenib in the treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer

CORRECT was an international, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III trial including 760 patients with previously treated mCRC, who were allocated to receive either regorafenib (n = 505) or placebo (n = 255), in addition to best supportive care [7]. In this study, the recruitment was completed in 11 months. Highlighting this latter the great need for new treatments in this setting. The primary endpoint of the trial, overall survival (OS), showed significant differences in favor of the regorafenib arm [6.4 vs. 5.0 months; hazard ratio (HR) 0.77; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.64–0.94; p = 0.0052].

Secondary end points of the trial were progression-free survival (PFS), objective response, disease control rates and safety. Differences in terms of PFS were significantly better with regorafenib (1.9 vs. 1.7 months, respectively; HR 0.49; 95 % CI 0.42–0.58; p < 0.0001). However, partial response did not differ significantly between both arms (1.0 vs. 0.4 %, respectively; p = 0.19). This may be due to the fact that regorafenib is a cytostatic, rather than a cytotoxic drug, as well as due to the fact that its activity may not be appropriately documented by the conventional Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Indeed, disease control rate (i.e. partial response plus stable disease assessed at least 6 weeks after randomization) was significantly higher in patients treated with regorafenib (41 %) than in those allocated to the placebo arm (15 %) (p < 0.0001). Patients treated with regorafenib showed a trend towards benefit in all clinical subgroups in the CORRECT trial, including patients presenting KRAS mutation.

The safety profile of regorafenib in the CORRECT trial was consistent with early-phase clinical trials, as well as with other small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The most frequent severe AEs were hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR), fatigue, diarrhea, hypertension and rash (Table 1). Most occurred early in the course of treatment and could be managed with dose modification or reduction. In the CORRECT trial, patients’ quality-of-life (QoL) was measured according to the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D scales. No substantial differences were found in overall change in QoL between regorafenib-treated patients and placebo recipients [10]. Both the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EQ-5D scales are validated for the measurement of QoL in patients with cancer. Although these scales do not address some of the AEs typically associated with regorafenib, the authors consider the overall results of this trial in terms of QoL are relevant.

Regorafenib is the first oral multikinase inhibitor with proven activity in patients with mCRC, achieving disease control rate in 41 % of treated patients and a 1.4 month absolute increase in OS, a 23 % reduction in the risk of death, and a 51 % reduction in the risk of progression or death. Regorafenib is generally well tolerated, with a toxicity profile optimally managed through early monitoring and through optimal implementation of supportive care strategies. In the light of these results, it was agreed that regorafenib should be considered a new standard of care for patients with pretreated mCRC in all clinical and molecular subgroups. Nevertheless, clinicians need guidance for regorafenib use in patients with mCRC to optimize drug tolerability and therefore keep a favorable benefit/risk profile.

The phase IIIb CONSIGN trial (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01538680) is a prospective, interventional, open-label, single-arm, multicenter expanded access study. CONSIGN aims to examine the effect of providing regorafenib to patients with mCRC who have failed after standard therapy and for whom no other treatment option exists. The primary endpoint of this study is collecting additional safety data on regorafenib in this setting. Patients continued on treatment until reaching one of the main study criteria, i.e. death, unacceptable toxicity, patient’s withdrawal of consent, physician’s decision for discontinuation or substantial noncompliance with the protocol. If the disease is progressive, the patient may continue treatment at the investigator’s discretion. To date, no data have been published on the outcomes of this trial.

Fatigue is a subjective symptom of exhaustion which increases gradually. Unlike weakness, fatigue can improve after a period of resting. In a phase I study conducted by Strumberg et al. [6] on 38 patients with heavily pretreated mCRC, 50 % of patients presented fatigue of any grade and 11 % of them showed grade ≥3 fatigue during their treatment with regorafenib. This symptom was one of the most common treatment-related AEs in this trial. Overall, regorafenib was permanently discontinued due to AEs in 11 (29 %) patients and in 1 of the patients treated at the 160 mg dose level, treatment discontinuation was due to fatigue. In the phase III CORRECT trial [7], fatigue was also among the most common regorafenib-related AEs, both at any grade (47 vs. 28 %), and at grade ≥3 (10 vs. 5 %) compared to placebo.

According to an analysis conducted by Grothey et al. [11] regarding the time course of regorafenib-related AEs, common grade 3 AEs occur early during the course of treatment and stabilize over time. The incidence of grade 1 and 3 fatigue was 19, 18 and 7 %, respectively, during the first cycle of treatment. The incidence of fatigue appeared to stabilize between the seventh and eighth cycles, occurring in 10 % of patients at this time point. In this analysis, the incidence of other common grade 3 AEs was also demonstrated to decrease over time.

As fatigue is a common symptom of cancer patients and its origin is often multifactorial (advanced cancer, drug toxicity, anemia, comorbidities, etc.), sometimes clinicians find difficulties in assessing to what extent the antineoplastic agent is contributing to it. Fatigue grade ≥2 has an impact in patients’ QoL, and it is important to highlight that patients should be made aware that fatigue may be affecting them prior to treatment initiation with regorafenib. As an AE of regorafenib, however, early action against fatigue plays a key role in patients treated with regorafenib. Therefore, during the first two cycles of treatment, monitoring for fatigue should be conducted every week, either by an oncologist or by a nurse. After the first two cycles, monitoring may be done less frequently.

Clinicians have to bear in mind that after the first medical appointment, the effect of regorafenib on fatigue can be controlled in several ways, such as reducing the dose of regorafenib (Fig. 1), treatment interruption and/or the administration of concomitant medications to the patient. Special attention should be also paid to other potentially treatable co-existing causes of fatigue such as anemia, and appropriate treatment initiated if indicated. During the second cycle of treatment and thereafter, an improvement in the control of fatigue is frequently achieved and, thus, less frequent monitoring is required. Asthenia–anorexia syndrome can be treated with corticosteroid medication [12], or with the administration of medroxyprogesterone [13]. However, the convenience of these treatments for patients with mCRC is an aspect under discussion. Overall, initial management of fatigue includes treating common causes of fatigue, such as pain, sleep disturbance and anemia. These conditions can improve with medical treatment. Proper nutrition and prevention of malnutrition, anorexia and dehydration may also help reduce fatigue. Regular exercise is also recommended to patients with a good physical status [14]. In addition, patients with any grade of fatigue should be checked thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels [15]. In the other hand, when severe fatigue occurs, regorafenib treatment should be interrupted until the patient’s energy levels have recovered.

Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome or HFSR is a disorder characterized by redness, marked discomfort, and swelling and tingling in palms or soles. This syndrome is characterized by localized thick hyperkeratotic lesions that may be surrounded by erythematous regions within the skin, which are often painful. According to the phase III CORRECT trial [7], HFSR of any grade is very common (47 %) and grade 3 HFSR is common (17 %) in patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib. These lesions usually occur within the first 2–4 weeks of regorafenib administration and can negatively impact physical, psychological and social well-being of patients, thereby affecting their QoL. HFSR is the most common toxicity leading to dose reductions or treatment interruptions in patients receiving regorafenib and these side effects start early in patients’ treatment.

In patients treated with regorafenib, HFSR should be monitored weekly during the first two cycles and every 4 weeks thereafter. Early detection of HFSR is a key to prevent worsening of this condition (Fig. 2). Main prophylactic measures include skin examination before treatment initiation, softening and removal of calluses, protection against pressure and friction (i.e. plantar pads, adequate footwear, etc.) and the frequent use of creams and moisturizers from the start of therapy. To soften the skin of the hands and feet non-urea-based creams should be applied, whereas keratolytic creams, containing urea or salicylic acid 6 % can be used on hyperkeratotic areas. To exfoliate callused skin, patients can use alpha hydroxyl acid-based creams (5–8 %) 2 times a day [16] (Fig. 3).

In cases of HFSR grade ≥2, a dermatologist consultation is recommended, and also the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The key objectives of HFSR management strategies for healthcare providers are to maintain or restore patient comfort and QoL, to avoid interference with patient’s daily activities and also to maintain their treatment with regorafenib for as long as possible. Accurate grading of HFSR is critical to select the appropriate management strategies. Dose reduction or treatment interruption may be required in some instances, which usually leads to the alleviation of symptoms in 1–2 weeks. Patients should be made aware of the importance of informing their healthcare team as soon as the first symptoms of HFSR are noticed. Patients must also be aware of the best practices for managing HFSR, as well as the steps that can be taken to lessen the severity of this reaction before and during their treatment with regorafenib.

Diarrhea is defined as having three or more loose or liquid stools per day, or an increase in the defecatory frequency over baseline for that particular patient. Diarrhea can be accompanied by pain, defecating emergency or incontinence, and, in severe cases, may cause fluid and electrolyte depletion leading to dehydration, renal failure and even cardiovascular compromise. Therefore, adequate early intervention is key to prevent severe complications. When a patient reports diarrhea, some questions shall be formulated in order to better adjust treatment, such as the presence of fever, number of stools/day, consistency and color, symptom duration, presence of nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, concomitant medication and type of abdominal surgery performed (whether the patient underwent a colostomy or an ileostomy). In the phase III CORRECT trial [7], diarrhea was reported in 34 % of patients with mCRC treated with regorafenib and in 7 % of them it was grade 3–4. Grade 3–4 diarrhea is the third most common side effect reported in the CORRECT trial, and the incidence of grade 3 diarrhea is constant throughout the treatment.

The incidence of grade 3–4 regorafenib-induced diarrhea seems to be higher than that observed in patients treated with drugs such as cetuximab in monotherapy (1.7 %) [17], and higher than that reported with other commonly used antineoplastic regimens in mCRC, such as FOLFIRI (10.5 %), FOLFIRI plus cetuximab (15.7 %), FOLFOX4 (9 %), FOLFOX4 plus panitumumab (18 %) and cetuximab plus irinotecan (21 %) [17‐19]. Treatment of diarrhea is an important aspect in patients receiving this drug. The treatment may include anti-diarrhea diet (avoid fiber and fat), intensive oral rehydration with liquids that contain water and electrolytes, and the use of anti-diarrheal drugs such as loperamide and/or codeine every 4–8 h. Regorafenib may also be suspended to allow the patient’s recovery (i.e. when diarrhea reaches grade >2), and then treatment restarted at a lower dose (Fig. 1).

Anorexia is also a frequent symptom in mCRC patients treated with regorafenib. Thirty percent of patients treated with regorafenib presented this AE in comparison with 15 % of patients in the placebo arm in the CORRECT trial [7]. However, there was no difference in the percentage of patients treated with regorafenib or placebo (3 %) who had grade 3 anorexia. With regard to weight loss, 14 vs. 2 % of patients with mCRC evaluated in this trial showed weight loss, respectively. Anorexia is a disorder frequently associated with other AEs in cancer patients. Weight loss can be easily measured; in contrast, anorexia is more subjective. Although both AEs are frequently related, patients can also present weight loss due to diarrhea, regardless of the presence of anorexia. Demetri et al. [8] conducted the GRID phase III trial that included 199 patients diagnosed with metastatic or unresectable GISTs. These patients had failed to respond to at least one previous administration of imatinib and sunitinib. In this trial, a lower percentage of patients in both study arms (21 % regorafenib arm vs. 8 % placebo arm) showed anorexia in comparison with the CORRECT trial.

Healthcare staff should ask patients at every medical appointment about their appetite and patients’ weight should be monitored in every cycle of treatment. The prophylaxis and management of the AE weight loss includes a hypercaloric diet, dietary supplements and the administration of megestrol acetate, as well as consulting an endocrinologist in some circumstances. However, as in patients presenting with fatigue, the convenience of the administration of corticoids to patients with anorexia is an aspect that is under discussion. It is important to highlight that anorexia and weight loss are frequent or very frequent AEs in patients treated with TKIs [20]. There are no data regarding the first occurrence of this AE and its outcome in patients treated with regorafenib, and there are no special requirements regarding anorexia in patients treated with this agent in this setting. In addition, clinicians have to bear in mind that patients with cancer can quickly lose 3–4 kg (grade 1 weight loss) but such weight loss does not require dose reduction. Nevertheless, grade 3 anorexia does require a dose reduction (Fig. 1).

Hypertension is common in patients treated with regorafenib; however, the effect of this agent on hypertension is not cumulative. The overall incidence of hypertension in the CORRECT trial was 28 and 6 % in patients treated in the regorafenib and placebo arms, respectively. The incidence of grade 3 hypertension was 7 and 1 %, respectively [7]. Nonetheless, the incidence of hypertension was higher in the GRID trial [8], as 58.5 % of patients treated with regorafenib presented this AE and in 23 % of them it was of grade 3. Several clinical trials carried out in patients treated with other TKIs have demonstrated similar or higher rates of hypertension in patients with mCRC or with GISTs treated with drugs such as sorafenib (all grades 23 %; grade 3–4 6 %), sunitinib (all grades 22 %; grade 3–4 7 %), pazopanib (all grades 36 %; grade 3–4 4 %), axitinib (all grades 40 %; grade 3–4 13 %), and regorafenib (all grades 36 %, grade 3–4 11 %) [7, 8, 21‐23].

It is important to bear in mind that hypertension occurs more frequently during the first two cycles of treatment with regorafenib, but this AE is controlled in subsequent treatment cycles [11]. Measurement of blood pressure is recommended before treatment initiation and then, careful consideration shall be given to initiate or adjust antihypertensive medication if required (Fig. 3). Following treatment initiation, monitoring of blood pressure twice a week is advised during the first 2 weeks of therapy and once per week thereafter. If blood pressure is stable, the monitoring frequency may be subsequently reduced. Hypertensive patients are recommended to have their blood pressure monitored more frequently. Overall, hypertension usually occurs with mild or moderate severity in patients treated with regorafenib and after 2 weeks of treatment with this drug. Nevertheless, this AE is generally asymptomatic and rarely impairs patient’s QoL. In addition, hypertension is easily manageable with appropriate medication and, when required, regorafenib treatment can be temporarily interrupted and/or dose can be reduced.

Mucositis is the type of toxicity related to cancer treatment most commonly affecting QoL. The high epithelial replacement rate in mucosal tissue makes it vulnerable to damage by antineoplastic agents. Signs of this condition include atrophy of the epithelial tissue accompanied by erythema and edema, sensation of dryness and burning in the mouth, odynophagia and cotton mouth. Grade ≥2 mucositis is also accompanied by pain and interferes with oral intake, potentially leading to dehydration and weight loss. Several guidelines address the prophylaxis and management of mucositis, and some key aspects described in these guidelines are mentioned below [24‐30].

Mucositis associated with biologic therapy is due to several mechanisms that differ from the mechanisms related to chemotherapy and which are not well-known. This AE affects 40 % of patients treated with standard chemotherapy, 80 % of patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy and 100 % of patients treated with radiotherapy to the head and neck. In patients treated with biologic therapies, the incidence of mucositis varies from 10 to 40 %, reaching 72 % in patients treated with afatinib. The mechanism of development of mucositis in patients treated with TKIs is not clear either; however, it seems to be related to impaired healing of microtraumas in these patients. Symptoms such as dysgeusia, dysphagia and aphthous ulcer are more frequently observed in patients treated with TKIs than in patients developing mucositis induced by conventional cytotoxic agents. The administration of a TKI together with a FOLFIRI regimen can increase the incidence and grade of mucositis. The incidence of mucositis in patients treated with TKIs fluctuates from 4 % (in patients treated with pazopanib) to 51 % (in patients treated with cabozantinib). The incidence of mucositis in the CORRECT trial was 27 and 4 % in patients in the regorafenib and placebo arms [7], respectively (3 and 0 %, respectively, showed grade 3). The mechanism for the development of mucositis in patients treated with regorafenib is still unknown, including the time point at which initiation of mucositis occurs in patients treated with this agent, whether this reaction is related to other toxicities and whether its recovery is similar to chemotherapy-related mucositis.

The risk factors involved in the development of this AE include age (the younger the patient, the greater the toxicity in the mucosal tissue), poor oral hygiene, nutritional status, tumor location (worse in tumors of head and neck) and type of treatment administered to the patient. Clinicians have to bear in mind these risk factors in order to prevent the occurrence of mucositis. In addition, the development of this AE can be accompanied by complications such as local and systemic infections, especially in patients presenting neutropenia <1,000 U/µL. Prophylaxis of mucositis includes appropriate oral hygiene, consultation with an odontologist (particularly important before treatment initiation) and the avoidance of spicy, acid, hard or hot food and drinks. With regard to treatment, recommendations include a high-protein diet and adequate hydration. In cases of severe mucositis, enteral or parenteral nutrition is advisable. Mucositis can also be treated with the use of gentle mouthwashes after meals and topical anesthetics. There are also products that cover the mucosal tissue, some of them present hyaluronic acid in their composition. This type of oral gels creates a film over the mucosa and protects it from the effects of food, liquids and saliva. Analgesics are also effective against mucositis. These agents include topical mouthwashes, opioid analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Lastly, dose modifications and treatment interruptions can also alleviate the symptoms of this AE and are recommended in patients developing grade ≥3 mucositis and may be considered in case of prolonged grade 2 (Fig. 1).

Skin rash is characterized by the presence of macules, i.e. flat, discolored areas of skin, and papules, or solid elevations of skin. Rash symptoms include photosensitivity, erythema, dry or peeling skin, blistering and pruritus [31]. Patients must be made aware of skin toxicities, especially HFSR and rash, when they are treated with antineoplastic drugs such as regorafenib [32]. Another key aspect is that skin toxicities need to be appropriately graded. Rash is common in patients treated with regorafenib, particularly of mild and moderate severity. In the phase I study carried out by Mross et al. in patients with advanced solid tumors treated with regorafenib, rash occurred in patients who were on a dose of 120 mg/day or higher. In the CORRECT trial, 26 % of patients presented rash in the regorafenib arm and 6 % of them had grade 3 rash. Like other AEs commonly associated with regorafenib, rash occurs early, during the first and second cycle of treatment, and its incidence stabilizes over time [11]. Interestingly, this AE is more frequent in women 40–60 years old. Thus, prophylactic measures should be especially addressed for this subpopulation of patients with mCRC. Rash associated with regorafenib is defined by areas of inflamed blotching alternating with pale areas in the skin. This AE can be accompanied by fever and detriment of the general condition in patients treated with this drug.

Rash should be monitored every week during the first two cycles of treatment with regorafenib, and every 4 weeks thereafter. From the beginning of treatment, prophylaxis plays a key role. Some prophylactic measures include the regular use of emollients (those not containing alcohol), use of mild soaps and avoiding extreme temperatures and direct sun exposure. The treatment of rash includes antihistamine medication and short-time use of topical corticoids. Dermatologist consultation is advised to adopt the most appropriate treatment for every patient. Dose modification or treatment interruption of regorafenib may be also required in some patients, depending on the severity of this AE (Fig. 1).