Pfizer reports key role of irinotecan in mCRC

Pfizer has reported trial data supporting the role of irinotecan as a vital constituent part of the first-line therapy for patients suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Results from the Crystal trial submitted at the world congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer last week compared treatment solely with Folfiri (irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimen) with the administration of Folfiri plus cetuximab.

Patients administered with both drugs saw a 15 per cent reduction in the risk of cancer spread or growth, while 46.9 per cent exhibited a shrink in tumour size, compared to 38.7 per cent in the patient arm receiving solely Folfiri.

Markus Moehler, assistant professor for gastrointestinal oncology at Johannes Gutenberg University, said: “The results of this trial confirm the benefits of improving and refining treatment regimens to get better patient outcomes.

“This trial confirms the evidence of the updated BICC-C trial, presented at Asco [the American Society of Clinical Oncology] in 2007, which assessed first line therapy with Folfiri and bevacizumab in patients with mCRC.”

He added that trial data shows that the combination of irinotecan with new targeted agents against mCRC results in improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients.

In January 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb reported the successful attainment of the primary endpoint in a phase III clinical trial of Erbitux plus Folfiri as a treatment for mCRC, with an increased median duration of progression-free survival compared to treatment with Folfiri alone.