Introduction: Initiation of chemotherapy in patients with cancer near end-of-life (EOL) has become more frequent due to an increasing number of treatment options. We aimed to analyze the proportion of metastatic colorectal cancer patients (mCRC) in Alberta, Canada, who were started on a new chemotherapy regimen within 90 days of death.
Methods: This was a retrospective, population-based study using data from the cancer measurement outcomes and evaluation (C-MORE) database. All patients who received chemotherapy for mCRC in a large Canadian province from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2016, were included in the current analysis. We identified the proportion of patients who initiated chemotherapy near EOL. Further, we analyzed the associations of baseline factors with initiation of chemotherapy near EOL.
Results: We identified 511 patients with mCRC who received chemotherapy. Of these, 132 (25.8%) initiated chemotherapy near EOL. Charlson's comorbidity index (CCI) score (score 1: OR, 0.524; 95% CI, 0.279-0.985; P = 0.045; CCI score > 1: OR, 0.366; 95% CI, 0.180-0.746; P = 0.006) and Eastern cooperative oncology group performance status (ECOG PS) (ECOG PS 2: OR, 4.457; 95% CI 2.518-7.890; P < 0.0001; ECOG PS > 2: OR 7.725; 95% CI 3.465-17.222; P < 0.0001) were predictive of initiation of chemotherapy near EOL. The most frequent chemotherapy regimens initiated were FOLFIRI (17%), capecitabine (15%), and panitumumab (15%), respectively.
Conclusions: Chemotherapy is frequently initiated near EOL in patients with mCRC. Routine clinical assessments including ECOG PS and comorbid medical conditions can help select patients with mCRC who are unlikely to benefit from palliative chemotherapy and prevent the adverse events and healthcare costs associated with such interventions near EOL.
Keywords: Chemotherapy near death; Chemotherapy near end-of-life; Colorectal cancer; End-of-life; Palliative chemotherapy; Quality of life.