Oral Treatments

If you need colorectal cancer treatment, it’s important to understand your treatment
plan, which medications you’ve been prescribed, and your options.

Oral Treatments

If you need colorectal cancer treatment, it’s important to understand your treatment
plan, which medications you’ve been prescribed, and your options.

Oral Treatments

If you need colorectal cancer treatment, it’s important to understand your treatment
plan, which medications you’ve been prescribed, and your options.

If you’ve been encouraged to undergo chemotherapy or targeted therapy, it’s important to know that not all drugs are the same. You may have options when it comes to how you receive treatment. Some treatment options come in pill form (instead of IV).

If you’ve been encouraged to undergo chemotherapy or targeted therapy, it’s important to know that not all drugs are the same. You may have options when it comes to how you receive treatment. Some treatment options come in pill form (instead of IV).

If you’ve been encouraged to undergo chemotherapy or targeted therapy, it’s important to know that not all drugs are the same. You may have options when it comes to how you receive treatment. Some treatment options come in pill form (instead of IV).

Treatment drugs available in oral form

Drug name (generic): capecitabine
How It Works: An oral form of IV 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It interferes with RNA and DNA to prevent cancer cells from dividing and multiplying.
Dosage: Comes in 150 mg and 500 mg tablets. Dosage is determined by your physician and is based on body size.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage II, III, and IV patients either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery to remove the primary tumor and/or any metastases.

Drug name (generic): trifluridine and tipiracil
How It Works: Trifluridine interferes with tumor cell reproduction. Tipiracil helps trifluridine work longer in the body.
Dosage: Comes in 15mg and 20mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For those whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage IV).

Drug name (generic): fruquintinib
How It Works: Interferes with tumor blood vessel development.
Dosage: Available in 5mg and 1mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have previously received treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan HCL, and an anti-VEGF therapy.
Drug name (generic): encorafenib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation in the BRAF gene that drives cancer growth.
Dosage: Recommended dose of 300mg once daily in combination with IV infusion cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a specific mutation of BRAF V600E.
Drug name (generic): regorafenib
How It Works: Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor. Kinases carry signals to tumor cells encouraging them to grow, which regorafenib blocks.
Dosage: Comes in 40mg tablets. Your specific dose will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have not responded to prior treatments.
Drug name (generic): adagrasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with the KRAS G12C mutation who have already received a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): sotorasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: Sotorasib is not currently approved for CRC treatment, but may be prescribed off-label.
Drug name (generic): selpercatinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the RET gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 40 mg and 80 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients that possess a RET gene fusion and did not respond to other therapies.
Drug name (generic): larotrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 25 mg or 100 mg capsules, or a 20 mg/mL oral solution.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): entrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 100 mg and 200 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): tucatinib
How It Works: Some tumors possess too much of a protein that promotes growth, called HER2. Tucatinib targets that protein.
Dosage: Comes in 50 mg and 150 mg tablets. Recommended dosage for CRC is 300 mg twice daily., in combination with trastuzumab. Your specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an unmutated RAS gene, who have already been treated with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): lapatinib
How It Works: Targets HER2, a protein that promotes cancer growth.
Dosage: Comes in 250 mg tablets, often administered with trastuzumab.
When It’s Prescribed: Lapatinib is not specifically approved to treat CRC, but may be prescribed off-label.

Treatment drugs available in oral form

Drug name (generic): capecitabine
How It Works: An oral form of IV 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It interferes with RNA and DNA to prevent cancer cells from dividing and multiplying.
Dosage: Comes in 150 mg and 500 mg tablets. Dosage is determined by your physician and is based on body size.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage II, III, and IV patients either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery to remove the primary tumor and/or any metastases.

Drug name (generic): trifluridine and tipiracil
How It Works: Trifluridine interferes with tumor cell reproduction. Tipiracil helps trifluridine work longer in the body.
Dosage: Comes in 15mg and 20mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For those whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage IV).

Drug name (generic): fruquintinib
How It Works: Interferes with tumor blood vessel development.
Dosage: Available in 5mg and 1mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have previously received treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan HCL, and an anti-VEGF therapy.
Drug name (generic): encorafenib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation in the BRAF gene that drives cancer growth.
Dosage: Recommended dose of 300mg once daily in combination with IV infusion cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a specific mutation of BRAF V600E.
Drug name (generic): regorafenib
How It Works: Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor. Kinases carry signals to tumor cells encouraging them to grow, which regorafenib blocks.
Dosage: Comes in 40mg tablets. Your specific dose will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have not responded to prior treatments.
Drug name (generic): adagrasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with the KRAS G12C mutation who have already received a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): sotorasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: Sotorasib is not currently approved for CRC treatment, but may be prescribed off-label.
Drug name (generic): selpercatinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the RET gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 40 mg and 80 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients that possess a RET gene fusion and did not respond to other therapies.
Drug name (generic): larotrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 25 mg or 100 mg capsules, or a 20 mg/mL oral solution.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): entrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 100 mg and 200 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): tucatinib
How It Works: Some tumors possess too much of a protein that promotes growth, called HER2. Tucatinib targets that protein.
Dosage: Comes in 50 mg and 150 mg tablets. Recommended dosage for CRC is 300 mg twice daily., in combination with trastuzumab. Your specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an unmutated RAS gene, who have already been treated with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): lapatinib
How It Works: Targets HER2, a protein that promotes cancer growth.
Dosage: Comes in 250 mg tablets, often administered with trastuzumab.
When It’s Prescribed: Lapatinib is not specifically approved to treat CRC, but may be prescribed off-label.

Treatment drugs available in oral form

Drug name (generic): capecitabine
How It Works: An oral form of IV 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). It interferes with RNA and DNA to prevent cancer cells from dividing and multiplying.
Dosage: Comes in 150 mg and 500 mg tablets. Dosage is determined by your physician and is based on body size.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage II, III, and IV patients either before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery to remove the primary tumor and/or any metastases.

Drug name (generic): trifluridine and tipiracil
How It Works: Trifluridine interferes with tumor cell reproduction. Tipiracil helps trifluridine work longer in the body.
Dosage: Comes in 15mg and 20mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For those whose cancer has spread to other parts of the body (stage IV).

Drug name (generic): fruquintinib
How It Works: Interferes with tumor blood vessel development.
Dosage: Available in 5mg and 1mg tablets, specific dosage will be determined by your doctor.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have previously received treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan HCL, and an anti-VEGF therapy.
Drug name (generic): encorafenib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation in the BRAF gene that drives cancer growth.
Dosage: Recommended dose of 300mg once daily in combination with IV infusion cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a specific mutation of BRAF V600E.
Drug name (generic): regorafenib
How It Works: Regorafenib is a multikinase inhibitor. Kinases carry signals to tumor cells encouraging them to grow, which regorafenib blocks.
Dosage: Comes in 40mg tablets. Your specific dose will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients who have not responded to prior treatments.
Drug name (generic): adagrasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with the KRAS G12C mutation who have already received a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): sotorasib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the KRAS gene, which leads to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer.
Dosage: Recommended dosage of 600 mg twice daily, your physician will determine your specific dose. Adagrasib comes in 200 mg tablets. It may be used with IV cetuximab.
When It’s Prescribed: Sotorasib is not currently approved for CRC treatment, but may be prescribed off-label.
Drug name (generic): selpercatinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the RET gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 40 mg and 80 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients that possess a RET gene fusion and did not respond to other therapies.
Drug name (generic): larotrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 25 mg or 100 mg capsules, or a 20 mg/mL oral solution.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): entrectinib
How It Works: Targets a specific mutation of the NTRK gene that allows cancer to grow despite other treatments.
Dosage: Comes in 100 mg and 200 mg capsules. Specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with a NTRK gene fusion that has gotten worse after other treatment, or cannot be treated with other therapies.
Drug name (generic): tucatinib
How It Works: Some tumors possess too much of a protein that promotes growth, called HER2. Tucatinib targets that protein.
Dosage: Comes in 50 mg and 150 mg tablets. Recommended dosage for CRC is 300 mg twice daily., in combination with trastuzumab. Your specific dosage will be determined by your physician.
When It’s Prescribed: For stage IV patients with an unmutated RAS gene, who have already been treated with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan HCL.
Drug name (generic): lapatinib
How It Works: Targets HER2, a protein that promotes cancer growth.
Dosage: Comes in 250 mg tablets, often administered with trastuzumab.
When It’s Prescribed: Lapatinib is not specifically approved to treat CRC, but may be prescribed off-label.

Oral Therapy Tips

Taking your pills as prescribed will ensure that they work to the best of their ability, and that you get the most benefit from them.

  • Always take these medications as prescribed. Be sure to follow all directions, such as taking your medication with a meal.
  • Do not skip doses.
  • Do not discontinue your medication without talking to your physician.
  • Wash your hands after handling chemotherapy agents, or wear gloves.
  • Be sure to keep your medications away from children and pets.
  • Pill organizers can help you keep track of your dosing, especially if you take multiple doses per day.
  • Try taking your medication with a lightly flavored drink, such as a sports drink, to help deal with the taste.

Oral Therapy Tips

Taking your pills as prescribed will ensure that they work to the best of their ability, and that you get the most benefit from them.

  • Always take these medications as prescribed. Be sure to follow all directions, such as taking your medication with a meal.
  • Do not skip doses.
  • Do not discontinue your medication without talking to your physician.
  • Wash your hands after handling chemotherapy agents, or wear gloves.
  • Be sure to keep your medications away from children and pets.
  • Pill organizers can help you keep track of your dosing, especially if you take multiple doses per day.
  • Try taking your medication with a lightly flavored drink, such as a sports drink, to help deal with the taste.

Oral Therapy Tips

Taking your pills as prescribed will ensure that they work to the best of their ability, and that you get the most benefit from them.

  • Always take these medications as prescribed. Be sure to follow all directions, such as taking your medication with a meal.
  • Do not skip doses.
  • Do not discontinue your medication without talking to your physician.
  • Wash your hands after handling chemotherapy agents, or wear gloves.
  • Be sure to keep your medications away from children and pets.
  • Pill organizers can help you keep track of your dosing, especially if you take multiple doses per day.
  • Try taking your medication with a lightly flavored drink, such as a sports drink, to help deal with the taste.

Side Effects

Even if you’re taking pills for cancer treatment, there will likely be side effects. These may include:

It is crucial to discuss any side effects you’re experiencing with your health care team. Just because your treatment is in a pill, it doesn’t mean you won’t have some of the same side effects that you’d have on treatments you take via an IV.

Side Effects

Even if you’re taking pills for cancer treatment, there will likely be side effects. These may include:

It is crucial to discuss any side effects you’re experiencing with your health care team. Just because your treatment is in a pill, it doesn’t mean you won’t have some of the same side effects that you’d have on treatments you take via an IV.

Side Effects

Even if you’re taking pills for cancer treatment, there will likely be side effects. These may include:

It is crucial to discuss any side effects you’re experiencing with your health care team. Just because your treatment is in a pill, it doesn’t mean you won’t have some of the same side effects that you’d have on treatments you take via an IV.

Pharmacies

Oral treatment is taken like most other pills in your medicine cabinet, but you may not be able to fill your prescription at your local pharmacy. You may need to find a pharmacy with expertise in distributing unique or uncommon drugs, which is called a specialty pharmacy. Your doctor will help you find a pharmacy to fill your prescription if you’re prescribed oral medications for cancer treatment.

Pharmacies

Oral treatment is taken like most other pills in your medicine cabinet, but you may not be able to fill your prescription at your local pharmacy. You may need to find a pharmacy with expertise in distributing unique or uncommon drugs, which is called a specialty pharmacy. Your doctor will help you find a pharmacy to fill your prescription if you’re prescribed oral medications for cancer treatment.

Pharmacies

Oral treatment is taken like most other pills in your medicine cabinet, but you may not be able to fill your prescription at your local pharmacy. You may need to find a pharmacy with expertise in distributing unique or uncommon drugs, which is called a specialty pharmacy. Your doctor will help you find a pharmacy to fill your prescription if you’re prescribed oral medications for cancer treatment.