Cancer Treatment Today

Dasatinib, also known as Sprycel, is a cancer drug produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb and sold under the trade name Sprycel. It is a drug that is approved by the FDA for chronic myelogenous leukemia. It has certain boplogical efects that raised the hope that it might be able to affect colon cancer. Unfortunately, thus far one phase II trial(Nautiyal et al) showed that Dasatinib is inactive in previously treated metastatic colorectal patients patients.

Dasatinib, also known as Sprycel, is a cancer drug produced by Bristol-Myers Squibb and sold under the trade name Sprycel. It is a drug that is approved by the FDA for chronic myelogenous leukemia. It has an effect on the Src kinases, which interact with the EGFR receptor. One phase II trial(Nautiyal et al) showed that Dasatinib is inactive in previously treated metastatic colorectal patients patients. There is a trial that is studying this drug:

IMRT is a rapidly evolving technique, which affords a more precise radiation dose delivery of escalated doses, in appropriate cases, to targeted tumors, while sparing nearby healthy tissue structures. The FDA clearance of numerous devices for the technical delivery of IMRT is based on the capability of this technology to incorporate accurate dose calculation algorithms, associated with a verifiable dose distribution, as managed by the treating physician,

There a number of imaging modalities that can stage colon and rectal cancer. A recent study evaluated the impact of FDG-PET on the management of patients with colorectal carcinoma. They noted a change in the clinical stage and major management decisions in approximately 40% of patients. The disease was upstaged in 20 patients (80%) and downstaged in 5 patients (20%). As a result of FDG-PET findings, physicians avoided major surgery in 41% of patients

Pemetrexed (Alimta) shows single-agent activity in advanced colorectal cancer. In two phase II studies in which patients received pemetrexed at 600 mg/m2 or 500 mg/m2 as first-line treatment for metastatic disease, objective response rates were 15.4% and 17.2%. In a National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project phase II trial in 54 patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer, pemetrexed at 500 mg/m2 plus oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)

Chemoradiation is the preferred approach to upfront treatment of rectal cancer whenever possible. "Chemoradiation" refers to the carefully orchestrated simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Chemoradiation is an important tool in the treatment of rectal cancer. The term "neoadjuvant" refers to the concept of administering chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy prior to surgery. The purpose of neoadjuvant chemoradiation

Currently, there are seven active and approved chemotherapy drugs for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: 5-FU, capecitabine, irinotecan, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, cetuximab, and panitumumab. Among the best studied ways of putting some of these drugs together are the regimen Folfox and Folfiri. Three randomized studies demonstrated improved response rates, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS when irinotecan or oxaliplatin was combined

Lay Summary: Chemoradiation is the preferred approach to upfront treatment of rectal cancer whenever possible. "Chemoradiation" is combined simultaneous administration of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Chemoradiation is an important tool in the treatment of rectal cancer. The term "neoadjuvant" refers to the concept of administering chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy prior to surgery. The purpose of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy

Lay Summary: About NSABP-04 NSABP R-04 is "A Clinical Trial Comparing Preoperative Radiation Therapy and Capecitabine with or without Oxaliplatin with Preoperative Radiation Therapy and Continuous Intravenous Infusion of 5-Fluorouracil with or without Oxaliplatin in the Treatment of Patients with Operable Carcinoma of the Rectum. The primary objective is to compare the rate of local-regional relapse in patients with resectable rectal cancer treated

Adjuvant chemotherapy for Stage II colon cancer is controversial but the field is now returning back to it and guideliens state that it is optional but accepted. There is greater acceptance for rectal cancer and NCCN lists Folfox or capecitabine with oxaliplatin. for adjuvant therapy of rectal cancer for stage II or III. Following neoadjuvant chemo, resection, adjuvant treatment recommendations per REC-4 lists FOLFOX and CapeOx. Another point of