Top 5 Most-Read Colorectal Cancer Articles of 2023

A study published in the American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC), FDA approvals, information on medication buyouts, and the increase of clinical staging in colorectal cancer (CRC) were among the topics covered in the top 5 most-read articles about CRC on AJMC.com.

These are the top 5 articles for CRC in 2023.

5. Clinical Staging of Colorectal Cancer Increased in Post–COVID-19 Period

When evaluating the timeframes before and after the COVID-19 pandemic, decreases in the number and availability of screenings for cancer during the pandemic led to stage migration in the initial diagnosis of CRC. There was a notable decrease in patients who received a diagnosis of CRC at clinical stage T1 (–8.73%) and clinical stage 0 (–2.80%) when comparing the 22 months before to the 22 months after the pandemic. An increase in clinical stage T4 diagnoses were found in that same timeframe (12.67%).

Read the full article here.

4. FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designations to Trastuzumab Deruxtecan for HER2+ Solid Tumors, Including mCRC

An article originally published on OncLive® reported that the FDA had granted fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) 2 breakthrough therapy designations to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic solid tumors that had progressed after prior treatment in patients with HER2-positive metastatic CRC (mCRC). The DESTINY-CRC01 and DESTINY-CRC02 phase 2 trials were used as the basis of the approval for treatment in CRC specifically. DESTINY-CRC01 demonstrated an objective response rate of 45.3% whereas the DESTINY-CRC02 had a confirmed objective response rate of 37.8%.

Read the full article here.

3. Takeda Stakes $1.13 Billion on Rights to Fruquintinib for Advanced Refractory Colorectal Cancer

Fruquintinib, an oral inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors-1, -2, and -3, were licensed by Takeda in January to develop and commercialize for subtypes of refractory metastatic CRC. Takeda planned to pay Hutchmed $400 million up front and up to $730 million in additional payments that were related to regulatory, development, and commercial sales milestones. The drug had met its primary end point of improving overall survival in a phase 3 multiregional clinical trial of patients with refractory metastatic CRC.

Read the full article here.

2. A “Sludge Audit” for Health System Colorectal Cancer Screening Services

A study published in the print version of AJMC found that a sludge audit method was able to identify and quantify sludge in the screening processes for CRC performed by a health system. The authors found that there was a 60.4% screening rate, with half of screening orders not completed. Sludge was found in the health system’s communication, time, administrative tasks, technology, paperwork, and low-value care. Effective screening for CRC can be achieved through further sludge audits.

Read the full study here.

1. FDA Approves Trifluridine/Tipiracil Plus Bevacizumab in Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

The FDA approved trifluridine and tipiracil (Lonsurf) and bevacizumab (Avastin) as a joint treatment for patients with metastatic CRC who had been previously treated. Data from the SUNLIGHT phase 3 trial was used as a basis for the approval, which found that there was a 39% reduction of the risk of death when using bevacizumab with trifluridine/tipiracil compared with using trifluridine/tipiracil alone. The risk of disease progression or death also saw a 56% reduction when using bevacizumab.

Read the full article here.