Topics:
Gastrointestinal Cancers • Medical Oncology
What is the optimal duration of therapy in patients with metastatic colon cancer with no evidence of disease?
I have a few patients with kras braf mutation negative metastatic colon cancer treated with upfront FOLFOX- bev followed by 5FU-bev who had regression of all visible liver metastasis on systemic therapy. One is out 5 years with no evidence of disease. Is it safe to stop chemotherapy and observe?
Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
First of all, it sounds as if congratulations are in order for your management (to have sustained a patient with mCRC for over 5 years is truly a remarkable accomplishment, although in cases like this the self-pitying oncologist might wonder if they are victims of their own success in determining a ...
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Answer from: Medical Oncologist at Academic Institution
I don't think there is a definitive answer to this question. It's very rare for patients to be rendered NED with systemic therapy alone. The body of literature supporting maintenance therapy over chemo-free intervals (very thoroughly outlined by @Mark A. Lewis above) may not apply to this group...