Intense Combination Chemotherapy Enables Surgery for Initially Unresectable Colorectal Mets

Treated with a combination of three chemotherapy drugs, 1 in 5 patients whose colorectal cancer had spread too far for surgery were able to have operations to remove metastatic tumors.  After five years, a third of them were alive with no sign of cancer.

Doctors in Italy treated 200 stage IV patients with a combination of 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan (FOLFOXIRI) during three different clinical trials.  While all three drugs are commonly used to treat colorectal cancer, they are not usually used at the same time.  Initially, all of the patients had cancer that had spread beyond the possibility of having it removed surgically. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on March 3rd, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: metastatic colorectal cancer, surgery

NCCN Updates Guidelines to Include KRAS Testing

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated their Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Colon Cancer to include testing tumors from patients with metastatic colon cancer for the KRAS gene.  The Guidelines also now say that cetuximab (Erbitux®) and panitumumab (Vectibix™) should only be given to patients whose tumors have normal (wild-type) KRAS. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 31st, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: KRAS, metastatic colorectal cancer

Continuing Avastin Beyond Initial Cancer Progression Improves Survival Time

Continuing Avastin® (bevacizumab) beyond the time when advanced colorectal cancer gets worse helps patients, according to new study reports.  Patients who continued to receive Avastin with a new chemotherapy regimen after their cancer first progressed lived almost 12 months longer than patients who got more chemo but stopped Avastin.  Both groups did better than those who had no further treatment at all.

BRiTE (Bevacizumab Regimens: Investigation of Treatment Effects and Safety) observed progress of three groups of patients when their cancer got worse after their first chemotherapy treatments.  All patients had Avastin as part of the first chemo, some continued it beyond that first cancer progression. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 17th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 3 Comments »
Tags: Avastin, bevacizumab, chemotherapy, metastatic colorectal cancer

Hypertension Clue to Better Outcomes with Avastin

Patients who developed hypertension with Avastin® (bevacizumab) had better response to treatment for colorectal cancer.  More had tumors shrink, and it took significantly longer for their cancer to get worse.

In a small Italian study, researchers measured blood pressure in 39 patients receiving Avastin along with irinotecan and 5-FU for the initial treatment of colorectal cancer.  Eight patients (20 percent) experienced grade 2 or 3 hypertension. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on October 12th, 2008
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Tags: colorectal cancer prognosis, metastatic colorectal cancer

Stents Can Manage Colon Obstruction Effectively

Self-expanding metal stents can help patients with an obstruction from advanced colon cancer avoid surgery.

When a large tumor blocks the left side of the colon, surgeons can remove the tumor or put in a stent to move bowel contents around the obstruction.  According to a recent study, patients live as long with either technique but spend less time in the hospital and have fewer complications with stents. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on August 29th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: metastatic colorectal cancer, surgery