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11/15/2007: "Phase II Trial for Metastasized Colorectal Cancer"
On my last visit, my doctor asked to see me in an exam room to talk about possible options. There has been a new chemotherapy protocol that was developed by Dr. Saltz who is the guru for colon cancer chemo regiments. He has just finished a Phase II trial (early in the process) that gets away from the standard regiment that I am on.
Currently I am on the renowned regimen for metastasized colon cancer. That includes the drugs Irinotecan, 5FU, Leucavorin, and Avastin. They also throw in the steroid Decadron just for fun. Statistically, this combination has shown an increase in survival rate of five months. This is the type of depressing news that got me off chemo to begin with. My doctor tells me they have had some good results so far with this new trial that drops 5FU and Leucavorin and combines Avastin with Erbitux. Erbitux is usually given as a last-ditch effort but is not very effective on its own.
In February 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved Avastin (bevacizumab) and Erbitux (cetuximab) to treat colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Both drugs are genetically engineered versions of antibodies produced by the immune system to fight foreign invaders.
Avastin is a new type of chemo drug called an antiangiogenic that works by preventing the growth of a tumor’s blood vessels. Side effects include feeling short of breath, feeling light-headed, fainting, flu symptoms, easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, stomach pain with vomiting, vomit that looks like blood or coffee grounds and hair loss. Erbitux functions similarly but has not been shown to extend people's lives. It was however, shown to shrink tumors in some people and delay tumor growth, especially when used as a combination treatment. Erbitux is one of several drugs that blocks the epidermal growth factor (EGF), a key cancer mechanism found on a wide range of solid tumors. There was good success in mice but disappointing results with humans. Side effects include skin rashes and itching, a feeling of swelling in the tongue or throat, irritation of the nasal passages, wheezing, nausea, Diarrhoea, fever, sore eyes, a cough and breathlessness.
Dr. Leonard Saltz, one of the world’s leading colon cancer specialists states, “We're seeing very exciting progress, But is it good enough? No. It stinks."
I'm a little apprehensive.