Optimizing Regorafenib Dosing in Refractory Colorectal Cancer: REARRANGE Trial
Medical Supporter — Information Notice
This article is a summary of international medical information and is not medical advice; it cannot replace the diagnosis or treatment plan of your attending physician. The medical technologies, drug information and clinical data presented here are compiled from public literature and official statements of major Japanese medical institutions; the applicability and outcome of any therapy vary with each patient and must be assessed individually by a qualified physician.
Medical Supporter — Information Notice
This article is a summary of international medical information and is not medical advice; it cannot replace the diagnosis or treatment plan of your attending physician. The medical technologies, drug information and clinical data presented here are compiled from public literature and official statements of major Japanese medical institutions; the applicability and outcome of any therapy vary with each patient and must be assessed individually by a qualified physician.
At the ESMO World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer 2019 held in Barcelona, Dr. G. Argiles presented the results of the REARRANGE Phase 2 clinical trial. This study evaluated whether alternative dosing strategies for Regorafenib (Stivarga), a multikinase inhibitor, could improve tolerability for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).
Study Design: REARRANGE Trial
The trial randomized 299 patients with refractory mCRC in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive three different dosing schedules (28-day cycles):
- Standard Dose Group: 160 mg once daily (3 weeks on / 1 week off).
- Reduced Dose Group: 120 mg once daily (3 weeks on / 1 week off).
- Intermittent Dose Group: 160 mg once daily (1 week on / 1 week off).
The primary endpoint was the incidence of Grade 3 or 4 adverse events.
Key Findings
The trial did not meet its primary endpoint of a 20% reduction in Grade 3/4 side effects with the alternative schedules:
- Grade 3/4 Side Effect Incidence:
- Standard Dose: 60%
- Reduced Dose: 54%
- Intermittent Dose: 55%
However, both alternative groups showed numerically lower rates of certain specific toxicities, such as fatigue, asthenia (muscle weakness), and proteinuria.
Efficacy Comparison
Importantly, the efficacy remained consistent across all three groups, showing that flexible dosing does not necessarily mean reduced benefit:
- Median Overall Survival (OS):
- Standard Dose: 7.4 months
- Reduced Dose: 8.6 months
- Intermittent Dose: 7.1 months
- Median Progression-Free Survival (PFS): Approximately 2.0 months for all groups.
Conclusion
The REARRANGE trial confirms that flexible Regorafenib dosing strategies (such as starting at a lower dose or using an intermittent schedule) are feasible and achieve similar survival outcomes to the standard 160 mg dose with potentially better management of specific side effects. This provides clinicians and patients with more options to tailor treatment to individual tolerance levels.
Source: ESMO World GI 2019 Press Release - REARRANGE Trial Results
#ColorectalCancer #Regorafenib #Stivarga #REARRANGETrial #CancerTreatment #DoseOptimization
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