Phase III success for Roche colorectal cancer drug

Roche has announced positive results for its phase III study of oral Xeloda, developed for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, which is a condition where the disease spreads to other parts of the body.

The study found that combining Xeloda with oxaliplatin to form a chemotherapy treatment called XELOX resulted in a similar period of time in which the disease did not progress to that caused by 5-FU/leucovorin plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX). In addition, combining FOLFOX and XELOX (Avastin) for chemotherapy also improved progression-free survival, compared with just chemotherapy.

“This is the first time that we have significant data showing that oral Xeloda in combination with oxaliplatin is as effective as FOLFOX, demonstrating that XELOX provides a new treatment option for colorectal cancer patients,” commented Ed Holdener, head of global development for Roche.

“These data again show the benefit of adding Avastin to chemotherapy. In this trial Avastin combined with FOLFOX and XELOX improved the chance of delaying progression of the disease by 20 per cent in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.”

According to the Office for National Statistics, colorectal cancer is one of the four most common types of cancer, which collectively accounted for just over half of all new cases of malignant cancer in the UK during 2003.

Cancer Research UK says that nearly 34,900 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK every year.

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