Colorectal Cancer

Despite their promise, checkpoint inhibitors are not effective in every patient, and research suggests the STING (stimulator of interferon genes) pathway may hold important clues as to why some tumors fail to respond.

Angiogenesis is a critical factor in the propagation and metastasis of many tumor types, including colorectal cancer.

Growth in healthcare spending in the United States continues to outpace growth in European countries that enjoy a similar standard of living.

A panel of expert clinical investigators discussed details of several treatments and a dozen patient cases involving gastric, colorectal, and pancreatic cancer at a satellite meeting of the 2015 ASCO GI Cancers Symposium.

In the largest patient population study to date, Mayo Clinic investigators have identified new genetic predictors of toxicity to colon cancer treatment, but the study has some caveats.

Representatives Diana DeGette (D, Colorado) and Fred Upton (R, Michigan) recently released a "discussion draft" of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Comparable test results were shown with both urine and plasma molecular assays in a blinded, retrospective study.

Chiara Cremolini, MD, discusses the phase III TRIBE trial, which compared FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab versus FOLFIRI plus bevacizumab as for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Metastatic disease accounts for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Ensuring a definitive diagnosis and the most effective treatment in a timely fashion is essential for extending life expectancy.

Interim results reported from a retrospective study of plasma samples from the VELOUR trial reveal multiple potential prognostic and predictive biomarkers to guide treatment of patients with mCRC with the VEGF-inhibitor ziv-aflibercept.

A “watch and wait” surveillance approach may allow certain patients with rectal cancer to achieve excellent outcomes without immediate surgery. This retrospective review of clinical data was presented at the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Intensifying the chemotherapy component of a standard first-line bevacizumab-containing regimen reduced the risk of death by about 20% and doubled the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate among patients with mCRC.

Patients with newly diagnosed metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who had higher levels of vitamin D in their blood lived a median of 8 months longer and experienced greater disease-free survival after their cancer treatment. This research was reported at a press briefing in advance of the 2015 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Second-line treatment with the VEGFR2 inhibitor ramucirumab (Cyramza) combined with standard FOLFIRI extended survival by 1.6 months versus FOLFIRI alone in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

The programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) ligand, PD-L1, has become a viable target for immunotherapy in cancer, with multiple antibodies now in development.

Randall F. Holcombe, MD, professor, Chief Medical Officer, Cancer, Mount Sinai Health System, discusses the benefits and challenges associated with stool DNA test for colon cancer.

As new therapies enter the treatment landscape for metastatic disease, the role of the oncology nurse becomes even more critical in educating patients about what side effects to look out for and the importance of reporting any adverse events promptly.

The number of therapies available for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s, when the only option approved by the FDA was 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).

TAS-102 (tipiracil hydrochloride) has received a fast track designation from the FDA as a treatment for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), according to an announcement by Taiho Oncology, the company developing the drug in the US.

All patients with metastatic colorectal cancer should undergo RAS mutation testing to ensure optimal patient selection for EGFR inhibitor therapy.

The 5-year survival rate for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) remains dismal. Liver metastases are a particularly common occurrence, developing in approximately half of all patients with colorectal cancer.

The combination of ramucirumab and FOLFIRI significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared with chemotherapy alone as a second-line treatment for patients with mCRC.

A head-to-head comparison of cetuximab and bevacizumab showed equivalence for chemotherapy plus either agent in terms of OS, PFS, and response rates for patients with certain previously untreated mCRC.

Tanios Bekaii-Saab, MD, Section Chief, Gastrointestinal Oncology, associate professor, Internal Medicine, Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, discusses an analysis of two targeted drugs for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Johanna Bendell, MD, director of GI Cancer Research Program, associate director, Drug Development Program, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses the importance of testing CRC patients for BRAF status.