Gastrointestinal Cancer

About 6% of colorectal cancers are caused by genetic mutations associated with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes. The most common hereditary cancer syndromes nurses are likely to encounter include hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer or Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis, and MYH polyposis. Current colorectal cancer recommendations for risk management, screening, and surveillance are complex and based on level of colorectal cancer risk and whether an individual carries a genetic mutation associated with a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome. Caring for patients with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes requires nurses to understand how to identify individuals and families at risk for hereditary colorectal cancer, refer to appropriate resources, and provide accurate information regarding screening, surveillance, and management. Nurses play a critical role in assessing colorectal cancer risk, obtaining an accurate family history of cancer, and providing information concerning appropriate cancer screening and surveillance.

In patients with stage II/III stomach cancer, postsurgical administration of S-1, an experimental chemotherapy agent, improves overall survival, compared with surgery alone

This 72-year-old woman undergoes surveillance colonoscopy. She has a history of small colonic adenomas removed from the distal colon and of a sessile hyperplastic polyp in the cecum. Prior biopsies have demonstrated only hyperplastic changes and no evidence of adenomatous or dysplastic features. Her last colonoscopic examination was more than 3 years ago.

Cell Genesys, Inc, announced follow-up data from a phase II clinical trial of GVAX immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer in 60 patients with operable pancreatic cancer who received the immunotherapy after surgical resection of their tumor and adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy.

ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb have announced that a phase III study of cetuximab (Erbitux) plus FOLFIRI (an irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimen) met the primary endpoint of increasing median duration of progression-free survival (PFS) over FOLFIRI alone in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.

British researchers have developed a vaccine that stimulates colorectal cancer patients' immune systems to fight cancerous cells. In a clinical trial of 67 patients, investigators at the University of Nottingham observed that when the vaccines were administered before and after surgery to remove cancerous tumors, they helped stimulated immune cell production in up to 70% of patients. These results were published in a recent issue of Clinical Cancer Research.

The three papers contained in this supplement to ONCOLOGY were designed to serve as practical "keep on the shelf" references for the current management of metastatic colon cancer and screening and management of patients at high risk of colon cancer.

Traditional therapeutic concepts and treatment regimens for colorectal cancer are currently changing with the demonstration of the efficacy of biologic agents in this disease setting. The addition of the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (Avastin) to conventional chemotherapy in the first- and second-line settings has shown a survival benefit; this outcome has helped to rapidly change the standard of care. Other targeted agents, such as anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies, have shown proof of efficacy in colorectal cancer as well. The molecular targeted therapies are associated with toxicity profiles that are distinctly different from those seen with conventional chemotherapy. A notable difference is the absence of high risk for myelosuppression, diarrhea, or alopecia, which are common side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. This article will explore the toxicities associated with targeted therapies in detail in an attempt to provide assistance to the practicing oncologist in detecting and managing these side effects in their patients. In particular, the article will focus on the side effects associated with the three currently approved targeted drugs: the anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody bevacizumab and the anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix).

Clinicians need to develop treatment strategies for subpopulations of patients with colorectal cancer, according to Richard Goldberg, MD, professor of medicine and division chief of hematology-oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill. He spoke at the 2006 Gastrointestinal Oncology Conference, sponsored by the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology.

In clinical trials of panitumumab (Vectibix), 8% to 13% of patients with refractory colorectal cancer achieved a partial tumor response with the drug, according to data from five studies reviewed at the 2006 Gastrointestinal Oncology Conference. The meeting was sponsored by the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology.

Industry and government need to form a new alliance to more efficiently conduct clinical trials, Howard Hochster, MD, professor of medicine, New York University Medical Center, said at the 2006 Gastrointestinal Oncology Conference, sponsored by the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology.

Two of the hottest targets in colorectal cancer are spurring "lots of enthusiasm," Lee M. Ellis, MD, professor of surgical oncology and cancer biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, said at the 2006 Gastrointestinal Oncology Conference, sponsored by the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology. The two targets, c-Src and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), both play key roles in tumor metastases and migration.

In a phase I study, the chimeric monoclonal antibody, RAV12 (Raven biotechnologies inc) has shown preliminary evidence of efficacy in gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. Howard A Burris III, MD, director of drug development at the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Nashville, one of three centers where the trial is underway, spoke about the research at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XXIV

Roche announced that a large, international phase III study (NO16966) enrolling 2,035 previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer patients met both of its primary endpoints.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States. It is estimated that about 55,000 patients will die this year due to advanced colorectal cancer. These grim statistics persist despite a marked increase in the rate of screening colonoscopies and improvements in adjuvant chemotherapy. Successful chemoprevention strategies may reduce the risk of new colorectal cancers, thus decreasing related overall morbidity and mortality.

Sunitinib malate (Sutent)is an effective treatment option forpatients with gastrointestinal stromal tumor(GIST) after imatinib mesylate(Gleevec) therapy has failed, accordingto a multicenter, randomized, placebocontrolledphase III clinical trial.

Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) tablets has receivedFDA approval to treat patients with fiverare, potentially life-threatening disorders,representing the first time that aregulatory authority has ever simultaneouslyapproved one targeted medicinefor so many disorders, according toNovartis, maker of Gleevec.

A phase III trial has shown that XELOX is as effective as FOLFOX4 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, and that adding the targeted agent bevacizumab (Avastin) to either regimen improves progressionfree survival (PFS).

The science supporting molecularly targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with solid tumors continues to evolve. Nurses are challenged to understand cell signaling, molecular targeting, and the mechanism of action of targeted agents. Two cell signal transduction pathways regulate the development, proliferation, and metastasis of solid tumors: the human epidermal growth factor (HER) receptor pathway and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor pathway. Several novel pharmacologic agents with distinct indications and methods of administration target the HER and VEGF molecular pathways.

Following priority review, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Amgen Inc's panitumumab (Vectibix) for the treatment of advanced colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death (after lung/bronchus cancer) in the United States.[1] In 2002, a total of 139,534 adults in the United States had colorectal cancer diagnosed, and 56,603 died. The US Preventive Services Task Force and other national organizations recommend that adults aged ≥ 50 years be screened for colorectal cancer with one or more of the following tests: fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) every year, sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enema every 5 years, or colonoscopy every 10 years.

For metastatic colorectal cancer, the benefits of maintenance therapy with 5-FU/leucovorin appear questionable, according to results of the OPTIMOX2 study

In patients with resectable rectal cancer, routine short-course preoperative radiotherapy results in a significant reduction in local recurrence and improved disease-free survival, compared with a selective postoperative approach.

Improved compliance with imatinib (Gleevec) therapy for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is associated with decreased total and disease-related health care costs

Nearly 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the United States in 2006. The impact of this diagnosis will be felt by countless family members, coworkers, and friends. Although screening tests for colorectal cancer have been available and encouraged by medical associations such as the American Cancer Society (ACS) and others, public awareness and compliance has been dismal.

The liver is a frequent site of metastatic colorectal disease. Over the past 20 years, improvements in systemic chemotherapy and surgical techniques have improved the survival of patients with hepatic metastases. For 4 decades, fluorouracil and leucovorin were the only drugs available to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, but several new drugs and a variety of novel regimens are now available. Further improvements in results have been seen with the delivery of chemotherapy via the hepatic artery. Surgical resection of liver metastases has been encouraged when possible, and recent advances in surgery such as portal vein embolization, have made liver resection a possibility for more patients. This review considers the timing and sequence of chemotherapy and surgery in this setting, as well as the roles of cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and radiation therapy.

The liver is a frequent site of metastatic colorectal disease. Over the past 20 years, improvements in systemic chemotherapy and surgical techniques have improved the survival of patients with hepatic metastases. For 4 decades, fluorouracil and leucovorin were the only drugs available to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, but several new drugs and a variety of novel regimens are now available. Further improvements in results have been seen with the delivery of chemotherapy via the hepatic artery. Surgical resection of liver metastases has been encouraged when possible, and recent advances in surgery such as portal vein embolization, have made liver resection a possibility for more patients. This review considers the timing and sequence of chemotherapy and surgery in this setting, as well as the roles of cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and radiation therapy.

Amgen announced interim results from two phase II studies of panitumumab, an investigational fully human monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Results from both studies suggest that the antitumor activity of panitumumab was independent of tumor EGFR expression levels in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who have failed standard chemotherapy.

The liver is a frequent site of metastatic colorectal disease. Over the past 20 years, improvements in systemic chemotherapy and surgical techniques have improved the survival of patients with hepatic metastases. For 4 decades, fluorouracil and leucovorin were the only drugs available to treat metastatic colorectal cancer, but several new drugs and a variety of novel regimens are now available. Further improvements in results have been seen with the delivery of chemotherapy via the hepatic artery. Surgical resection of liver metastases has been encouraged when possible, and recent advances in surgery such as portal vein embolization, have made liver resection a possibility for more patients. This review considers the timing and sequence of chemotherapy and surgery in this setting, as well as the roles of cryoablation, radiofrequency ablation, and radiation therapy.

FOLFIRI can be given intermittently in advanced previously untreated colorectal cancer, with survival rates and toxicity similar to continuous FOLFIRI