Young People with Advanced Colorectal Cancer Do As Well with Chemotherapy as Older Patients

Colondar Models Erika and Cathy

When colorectal cancer spreads to other parts of the body, young people under 50 who get chemotherapy benefit as much as those who are older.

With drug combinations, there is no difference between those under 50 and those who are 50 and older in responding to chemotherapy, how long it takes before cancer gets worse, or in survival time. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 10th, 2010
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 2 Comments »
Tags: ASCO, metastatic colorectal cancer, young patients

ASCO Advises Oncologists: Test for KRAS Mutations

The American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has published a provisional clinical opinion (PCO) advising doctors to test patients with colorectal cancer for KRAS mutations before treating them with medicines that include Erbitux® (cetuximab) or Vectibix™ (panitumumab).

The consensus of experts who reviewed recent research was that patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose tumors have mutations in the KRAS gene do not benefit from treatment that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR therapy).  Patients should be tested for KRAS mutations and, if those mutations are found, not receive anti-EGFR antibodies as part of their treatment..

A PCO, based on expert consensus, is designed to help decision-making for oncologists faced with major research results that can potentially change the way they treat patients. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on April 23rd, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | 3 Comments »
Tags: ASCO, EGFR inhibitors, KRAS

ASCO Issues Opinion on KRAS Testing

An panel of experts at the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends that all patients who are being considered for anti-EGFR therapy have their tumors tested for the KRAS gene. If mutations are found, the panel says they should not be treated with Erbitux® (cetuximab) or Vectibix™ (panitumumab). Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on January 15th, 2009
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: ASCO, KRAS

Age and Gender Affect Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

More News from ASCO 2008

Although men and women with metastatic colon or rectal cancer have similar overall survival after their diagnosis, age has an impact.  Women in premenopausal years, 18 to 44, live longer than younger men.  However, after the age of 75, women have significant worse survival than men.

Across all age groups, Hispanics survive the longest, followed by whites, Asians, African Americans, and, finally, Native Americans according to a study from the University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and reported at ASCO. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 25th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: ASCO, colorectal cancer prognosis

Provigil Helps Cancer Fatigue

Update from 2008 ASCO Meeting in Chicago

Provigil® (modafinil) reduced fatigue in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy according to a study reported by Gary Morrow PhD at the 2008 ASCO meeting.

Patients who were severely fatigued after their first chemotherapy treatment had less fatigue after they received Provigil than those who got a placebo. They were also less sleepy during the day.

Severe fatigue was considered more than 6 on a 10 point scale. Patients with mild or moderate fatigue did not have a similar improvement.

Despite improvement in severe fatigue, there was no effect on depression. Continue reading…

Posted by Kate Murphy on June 10th, 2008
Posted in: Research & Treatment News | No Comments »
Tags: ASCO, fatigue