Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41692742›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2026

Comparative prognostic performance of the REBECCA score and the Tabernero classification in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer treated with regorafenib: a multicenter real-world study.

Nieves Martínez-Lago, Beatriz Carnero López, Juan Cruz de la Cámara Gómez, Francisca Vázquez Rivera, Ana Fernández Montes, Antia Cousillas Castiñeiras, Noemí De Dios Alvarez, Marta Covela Rúa, Rafael Varela Ponte, Sara Agraso Busto and 3 more

Abstract readMulticenter StudyComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Nieves Martínez-LagoMedical Oncology Department and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago University Clinical Hospital (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Nieves.Purificacion.Martinez.Lago@sergas.es.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0408-6871
Beatriz Carnero LópezMedical Oncology Department, Lucus Augusti University Hospital, Lugo, Spain.
Juan Cruz de la Cámara GómezMedical Oncology Department, A Coruña University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain.
Francisca Vázquez RiveraMedical Oncology Department and Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), Santiago University Clinical Hospital (CHUS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Ana Fernández MontesMedical Oncology Department, Ourense University Hospital Complex, Ourense, Spain.
Antia Cousillas CastiñeirasMedical Oncology Department, Pontevedra University Hospital Complex, Pontevedra, Spain.
Noemí De Dios AlvarezMedical Oncology Department, Álvaro Cunqueiro University Hospital, Vigo, Spain.
Marta Covela RúaMedical Oncology Department, Lucus Augusti University Hospital, Lugo, Spain.
Rafael Varela PonteRadiology Department, Associate Professor of Health Sciences, Santiago de Compostela University Clinical Hospital (CHUS), Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Sara Agraso BustoMedical Oncology Department, Ferrol University Hospital Complex, Ferrol, Spain.
Alberto Carral MasedaMedical Oncology Department, A Coruña University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain.
Mercedes Salgado FernándezMedical Oncology Department, Ourense University Hospital Complex, Ourense, Spain.
Margarita Reboredo LópezMedical Oncology Department, A Coruña University Hospital, A Coruña, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRegorafenib is a standard treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) refractory to conventional therapies. However, outcomes remain heterogeneous, and simple and reproducible prognostic tools applicable in routine clinical practice are needed to optimize patient selection. This study aimed to perform an external real-world validation of the REBECCA prognostic score and the Tabernero classification in a multicenter cohort of refractory mCRC patients treated with regorafenib.

methodsWe conducted a retrospective multicenter study including 130 patients with refractory mCRC treated with regorafenib across five university hospitals in Galicia, Spain. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rate (DCR) were analyzed according to the REBECCA prognostic score and the Tabernero classification. Kaplan–Meier estimates, log-rank tests, and chi-squared analyses were used to compare outcomes between prognostic subgroups.

resultsMedian age was 63 years, and 94.6% of patients had ECOG performance status 0–1. Median OS and PFS were 6.7 and 2.9 months, respectively. According to the REBECCA prognostic score, median OS was 9.2, 6.9, and 5.3 months for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively (p = 0.138). In contrast, the Tabernero classification identified significant OS differences, with median OS of 10.5, 6.9, and 5.2 months in patients with best, good, and poor prognostic characteristics, respectively (p = 0.022). DCR was also significantly stratified by the Tabernero classification (48.0%, 21.1%, and 24.4%; p = 0.004). Treatment was well tolerated, with a safety profile consistent with previous studies.

conclusionsIn this multicenter real-world study, the Tabernero classification demonstrated robust prognostic stratification in a real-world setting in refractory mCRC patients treated with regorafenib, whereas the REBECCA prognostic score showed limited discriminatory ability in this contemporary cohort. Given its simplicity, objectivity, and reproducibility, the Tabernero model may represent a practical tool to support prognostic assessment and clinical decision-making in routine practice.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsColorectal NeoplasmsPhenylurea CompoundsPyridinesAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansKaplan-Meier EstimateMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm MetastasisPrognosisProgression-Free SurvivalRetrospective StudiesAntineoplastic AgentsPhenylurea CompoundsPyridinesregorafenibMetastatic colorectal cancerPrognostic scoreReal-world evidenceREBECCA prognostic scoreRegorafenibTabernero classification

Identifiers

PMID41692742
PMCPMC13019739

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.