Estimation of US patients with cancer who may respond to cytotoxic chemotherapy

AIMS, PATIENTS & METHODS: In this retrospective review, we sought to estimate the proportion of patients in the USA with advanced or metastatic cancer who are eligible for and may respond to recommended first-line cytotoxic chemotherapy based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines. RESULTS: Among 609,640 patients, we estimate 479,823 (78.7%, 95% CI: 78.6–78.8%) may be eligible for cytotoxic chemotherapy while 189,159 out of 609,640 patients (31.0%, 95% CI: 30.9–31.1%) may have achieved treatment response. The average objective response rate from these regimens was 48.6% (range 9.2 to 90.6%). CONCLUSION: Given the large role of cytotoxic agents in cancer, drug development in this space may remain of interest in specific cancer types, and regulatory approval of novel oncology drugs may justify head-to-head comparisons against cytotoxic regimens.