title: Irinotecan during pregnancy in metastatic colon cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colon cancer during pregnancy is a relatively rare occurrence. To date there has been sparse clinical evidence about the safety of chemotherapy in this setting because the available data derive only from single-institution case reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Irinotecan and fluorouracil, as part of the FOLFIRI regimen, were administered to a 33-year-old pregnant woman at an estimated gestational age of 23+ weeks. She had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon with liver and lymph node metastases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chemotherapy was administered from the 23+th to the 28+th week of gestational age. Chemotherapy was stopped because of disease progression. At 30 weeks' gestational age, the patient underwent an emergency cesarean section and colon resection. She gave birth to a healthy male infant with no particular problems in neurological, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive and nutritional function. At follow-up, the 13-month-old child had achieved all appropriate growth and developmental milestones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our report demonstrates the safety of exposure to FOLFIRI for both mother and fetus. The absence of any abnormalities in the infant makes irinotecan and fluorouracil a valid therapeutic option for colon cancer during pregnancy.
authors: Ospedale Sacro Cuore Don Calabria, Via Sempreboni 5, Negrar (VR), Italy. massimo.cirillo@sacrocuore.it
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Cirillo
authors: Mariella
authors: M
authors: Musola
authors: Paola Agnese
authors: PA
authors: Cassandrini
authors: Gianluigi
authors: G
authors: Lunardi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Venturini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003082:Colectomy; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin