CPT-11 (irinotecan) in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Western World. Although 50% of patients are cured by surgery alone, the outcome is poor in high-risk patients (Dukes stages B2 and C) despite adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-based regimens. CPT-11 (irinotecan) is a promising new agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer with a unique mechanism of action. CPT-11 is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, which has not demonstrated susceptibility to the P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug-resistant phenotype. Phase II studies with CPT-11 have demonstrated definite activity against colorectal cancer in both chemotherapy-naive and pretreated patients (response rates of 15-32% observed) even with clinical evidence of resistance to 5-FU. The response rate appears to be consistent, reproducible and equivalent to that achieved with 5-FU plus folinic acid in chemotherapy-naive patients.
Armand
J P
JP
Department of Medicine, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
Ducreux
M
M
Mahjoubi
M
M
Abigerges
D
D
Bugat
R
R
Chabot
G
G
Herait
P
P
de Forni
M
M
Rougier
P
P
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D059004:Topoisomerase I Inhibitors; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin