According to two new studies in The Lancet, for patients starting out treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, beginning chemotherapy with one drug is gentler and just as effective. Current clinical practice favors using combo therapy from the start.In the first study from the University of Leeds, three groups of advanced colorectal cancer patients received three different regimens: the first group received only fluorouracil for as long as it controlled their disease, the second received fluorouracil followed by combo therapy (adding irinotecan or oxaliplatin), the third received combo therapy from the beginning.
Patients in the first group had the shortest survival times, while patients in the second and third groups had similar overall survival times.
In the second study from the University Nijmegen Medical Center in the Netherland, patients were randomly assigned to either sequential treatment with capecitabine, irinotecan and oxaliplatin; or combination treatment of capecitabine plus irinotecan followed by capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. Both groups of patients had similar overall survival rates.
1. I was diagnosed with metastatic rectal cancer in Aug, 2007. I want to share the wonderful response I've had to my treatment so far. After just 3 chemo rounds of 5FU plus Avastin, my recent PET scan showed a 75-80% reduction in my tumors. My oncologist was amazed and said he's had patients that have done very well with this regimen, but he never had a patient respond this well, this quickly. I'm undergoing three more rounds, then they'll scan me again. At this rate, my oncologist expects the cancer to be gone or almost completely gone. Initially, the Dr. was hoping to get my liver down from the 12 tumors there to just the 2 or 3 largest so I could become a surgical candidate. After just three rounds, the PET scan showed only ONE tumor remaining in my liver. I had several smaller tumors in my lungs & they are completely gone! My originally found rectal tumor has shrunk some, as well. Best wishes to everyone out there going through treatment- there is HOPE!
Posted at 7:15PM on Oct 13th 2007 by Lisa Didier