Is FOLFOX4 for You?

Researchers from Hopital Saint Antoine in Paris found that adding Eloxatin to standard chemotherapy increased the survival of colon cancer patients. The treatment regimen is called FOLFOX4.

Specifically, researchers conducted the study to determine the efficacy of standard chemotherapy (5-FU and leucovorin) vs. standard chemotherapy plus Eloxatin (FOLFOX4 regimen).

All study participants had locally-advanced, completely-resected stage 2 or 3 colon cancer. The patients (2,246 total) were split into two groups; approximately half received standard chemo and the rest were treated with the FOLFOX4 regimen.

After following patients' progress for a median of four years, researchers found that people in the FOLFOX4 group were significantly less likely to have a relapse than people in the standard chemotherapy group. So, if you have locally-advanced, resected stage 2 or 3 colon cancer, you may want to ask your doctor if FOLFOX4 might be right for you.

Related Research:

• FOLFOX4 Drug Combo Proven Effective
  
• FOLFOX4 Plus Avastin: Worth a Try?

_{Source: Gale, Karla. Avastin, Eloxatin Plus Standard Therapy Prolong CRC Cancer Survival. Oncolink. 27 Jan. 2005. 24 Aug. 2006 [http://www.oncolink.com/resources/article.cfm?c=3&s=8&ss=23&id=11506&month=01&year=2005].}