Dr. Lenz on Choosing Between Regorafenib and TAS-102 in CRC

Heinz-Josef Lenz, MD, FACP, professor of medicine, J. Terrance Lanni Chair in Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, and co-director, University of Southern California (USC) Center for Molecular Pathway and Drug Discovery, at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses factors to consider when choosing between regorafenib (Stivarga) and trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102; Lonsurf) in the third-line treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Regorafenib and TAS-102 have demonstrated similar progression-free survival and overall survival in this setting, says Lenz. However, the agents have significant differences with regard to their safety profiles.

Additionally, data has shown that using regorafenib earlier in treatment may increase the agent’s efficacy, Lenz explains.

Other data have shown that TAS-102 remains effective after patients progress on regorafenib, although data have not confirmed whether regorafenib remains effective after TAS-102 treatment, says Lenz.

As such, regorafenib should be used prior to TAS-102 in young patients with CRC who have a good performance status, concludes Lenz.