Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that develops in the colon and/or rectum. This cancer can spread to other parts of the body like liver, lungs or brain. In that case it is referred to as metastatic colorectal cancer. If that is the case, you will require metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.
What is Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment?
together with a chemotherapy treatment known as FOLFIRI was used in a clinical trial in treating colorectal cancer that has metastasized. It showed slowed progression of the tumor and, in some cases, shrunk the tumor by a certain percentage. Overall, it gave patients an opportunity to live longer.
is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antagonist whose indications and usage involve the treatment of KRAS-wild-type tumors (KRAS mutation-negative gene) and EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal cancer. The FDA-approved tests are used to determine characteristic traits of the tumors. They can be used in combination with other drugs like FOLFIRI as a first-line treatment of this cancer. It can also be combined with irinotecan in treatment of tumors that are refractory to irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Lastly, it can be used as a single agent in patients who are intolerant to irinotecan chemotherapy and those whose disease has progressed after failure of irinotecan and oxaliplatin-based regimens.
is not approved for use in patients whose tumors have KRAS mutations often called Ras mutant or in patients who have an unknown mutational status.
Speak to Your Doctor before Using Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment if…
• you have history of a heart condition as treatment can induce acute cariotoxicity.
• you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant as can harm an unborn baby. Patients should consider use of contraceptives during treatment and wait at least two months after the last dose before becoming pregnant.
• you are breastfeeding as can be passed through a mother’s breast milk and this could cause serious health risks to the breastfeeding child. A patient should not breastfeed during treatment and should wait at least two months after the last dose before breastfeeding.
• you are taking any medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter as these may interact differently with , altering the outcome of the treatment.
Side effects of include rashes, vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dry or cracked skin, and nail changes among others. In conclusion, metastatic colorectal cancer treatment has shown significant positive outcome in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor exhibiting characteristic and also in wild type tumors.
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