Quality-of-life concerns in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

For many years, the focus of treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer has been to prolong patient survival. Increasing evidence, however, highlights the quality-of-life issues these patients face as they progress through lines of treatment. Quality of life is important to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and can greatly impact their overall well-being. Some studies have found associations between quality of life and survival. The approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of regorafenib and trifluridine/tipiracil in the third-line setting for patients with metastatic disease provided an option for salvage therapy that improved overall survival in heavily pretreated patients. The safety profile of each agent can help guide selection. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer require an individualized treatment strategy that incorporates their age, comorbidities, and prior treatments. New data on quality-of-life measures from pivotal clinical trials also provide insight into selection of treatment. These factors should be considered along with the patient’s preferences and individual treatment goals.