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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »