title: Irinotecan/thalidomide in metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: The prognosis for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer is poor. Use of irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar) results in modest response rates of approximately 20% in refractory patients diagnosed with this advanced stage of disease and offers a side-effect profile that improves on that of previous standard treatments. Thalidomide (Thalomid) has antiangiogenic properties, and angiogenesis has been shown to influence the outcome of colon cancer patients. A good response rate and acceptable tolerability regarding gastrointestinal effects were demonstrated in a pilot study of the irinotecan/thalidomide combination in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. This combination is being assessed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as second-line therapy in a phase II trial. Patients with metastatic colorectal cancer are receiving 350 mg/m2 of irinotecan every 3 weeks plus 400 mg/m2/d of thalidomide. Preliminary response and safety data are presented for 18 enrolled patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA. govindarajanrang@uams.edu
authors.forename: Rangaswamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / 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; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin