Colorectal Cancer

The combination of ziv-aflibercept and capecitabine demonstrated an acceptable safety profile and encouraging clinical efficacy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, according to findings from the ongoing phase II X-TRAP trial.

Treatments can be better customized and tailored based on each patient's individual desires and characteristics, now that two effective options are available for refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, according to Jennifer Wu, MD.

Jennifer Wu, MD, discusses the issue of deficiencies in enzymes that fix mismatch repairs in colorectal cancer. Wu says targeting the cancer-specific enzymes which allow tumors to repair themselves could stop tumor growth in patients.

John Marshall, MD, discusses the individualization of treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

A first-in-human phase I dose-escalation study followed by a small expansion cohort, both of which were conducted solely in Germany, set the stage for what would soon become the FDA-approved dose for regorafenib (Stivarga) of 160 mg/day.

"While adverse events across both populations were broadly similar, some did occur more frequently in patients with longer exposure, an observation that is possibly related to the longer duration in this subgroup," said Axel Grothey, MD.

Regorafenib offers a unique challenge in terms of AE management. AEs with regorafenib have been reported across several clinical trials, and more recently, a clinical case study demonstrated the utility of regorafenib in a "real world" scenario, adding further insight.

To gain further insight into TAS-102 and regorafenib, Targeted Oncology spoke with Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, on how he utilizes currently available data to provide optimal care for patients with chemorefractory CRC.

Georgia L. Wiesner, MD, MS, director, Clinical and Translational Hereditary Cancer Program, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research, professor of Medicine, cancer geneticist, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, discusses the role genetic testing for colorectal cancer (CRC) plays in families.

The latest results from an open-label, phase Ib study of the STAT3 inhibitor BBI-608 (napabucasin) with a standard chemotherapy (FOLFIRI with or without bevacizumab) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, have been presented at the ASCO 2016 Gastrointestinal Symposium. Evidence of antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile were seen in phase I studies.

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, medical oncologist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the combination of bevacizumab with FOLFOXIRI (irinotecan, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and folinate) as a treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Cathy Eng, MD, FACP, medical oncologist, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the combination of bevacizumab with FOLFOXIRI (irinotecan, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and folinate) as a treatment for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Preoperative treatment with short-course radiation therapy plus 3 cycles of chemotherapy boosted overall survival (OS) and generated fewer adverse events (AEs) compared to standard chemoradiation for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

A gene associated with the suppression of tumor growth has been found to act in the opposite manner in some forms of colorectal cancer (CRC), according to researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine.

With an expanding treatment paradigm for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) at their fingertips, oncologists are working out the best methods of use for their new armamentarium, says John L. Marshall, MD.

Recent results from a survey of some 7000 patient specimens from the Cancer Genome Atlas concluded that gene fusion events, resulting in oncogenic activation, were commonly observed among members of the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase family, with 23 gene fusions observed over a total of 9 different tumor types, including colorectal cancer.

Vitamin C, often used to fight colds and other pathogens, may also be a powerful weapon against colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published in Science.

A number of colorectal cancer care advocacy groups and the American Cancer of Radiology are lobbying Congress to pass the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act, an initiative that could lower costs and increase screening rates.

The FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation to Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) as a potential therapy for patients with microsatellite instability-high metastatic colorectal cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified processed meat as carcinogenic to humans and red meat as probably carcinogenic to humans.

Dr. S. Yousuf Zafar talks about the association between the body mass index of patients who are starting treatment for colorectal cancer and both the progression free survival and overall survival.

Dr. Guy Van Hazel speaks about finding a potential survival advantage for extrahepatic colorectal cancer metastases patients that undergo selective internal radiation therapy.

The USPSTF recently posted a draft recommendation statement and draft evidence review on screening for colorectal cancer prompting responses from organizations and industry.