Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death related mortality with 1.2 million new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. Despite remarkable advances in the treatment of resectable CRC, advanced disease that recurs following initial two lines of chemotherapy, remains incurable. Targeted therapies using a single agent or in combination with other drugs have been tested in a number of clinical trials, with only moderate improvement. Here we present preliminary findings of improved overall survival (OS) using a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate with various targeted and chemotherapeutic agents in stage IV CRC patients who had failed at least two lines of chemotherapy. Results suggest a strategy of simultaneous interruption of signal transduction involving EGFR (VEGF) KRAS-ERK and PI3K-AKT pathways and interference with cell cycle, cancer cell metabolism, maintenance of cancerous stem cells, and promotion of apoptosis. In a group of 15 patients, median OS was higher compared to other third-line therapies (14.7 months compared to between 4.8 and 9.5 months in other studies). Given the understanding that our findings are preliminary, we propose the validation of our initial results using a well-designed phase I/II trial in recurrent advanced colorectal cancer.
Highlights
The American Cancer Society statistics for 2014 estimate 136,830 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the United States [1]
complete response (CR) required the disappearance of all lesions confirmed at the end of four weeks, partial response (PR) required 50% or higher decrease of the largest perpendicular diameters (LPD) of measurable lesions confirmed at four weeks, progressive disease (PD) was determined when there were new lesions or when there was an increase over 25% in the existing lesions, and stable disease (SD) was classified as the status between PR and PD
The results reported here are based on a small series of patients who were consecutively admitted for the treatment at Burzynski Clinic (BC) during the last few years
Summary
The American Cancer Society statistics for 2014 estimate 136,830 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the United States [1]. The importance of CRC among various cancers is reflected by the number of new treatments introduced in the last three decades, beginning with 5-fluorouracil in the early 1980s and followed by its derivative capecitabine 15 years later. Bevacizumab, panitumumab, and zivaflibercept have been added to treatment regimens over the last ten or so years, and more recently the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib [3]. As the result of these treatment advances, resectable CRC has become a treatable disease with surgery in the early stages, or with surgery followed chemotherapy. Regimens such as FOLFOX, FOLFIRI, XELOX, and XELIRI are used as first- and second-line treatment for the management of advanced stage IV disease. Few options are available after failure of second-line therapy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
