Blood Test May Help Choose Best Candidates for FOLFIRI Regimen

A simple blood test may soon be able to tell doctors who'll benefit from FOLFIRI chemotherapy and who should try a different therapy. FOLFIRI is one of the treatments for stage 4 colon cancer and is a combination of three drugs: Camptosar (irinotecan), Adrucil (fluorouracil), and Leucovorin (leucovorin).

Results of the FOLFIRI Study

Only about half of colon cancer patients who receive FOLFIRI treatment benefit from it. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology examined tumors from 21 people with advanced colon cancer and identified 14 "predictor" genes. (In this case, predictor genes are ones that may predict a person's response to the FOLFIRI treatment.) Their method identified who would benefit from FOLFIRI chemo with 95 percent accuracy.

Sounds Good, Right?

It is good, but more research is needed to confirm the results. If it turns out these 14 genes really can predict who'll benefit from FOLFIRI chemo, it'll probably be at least a couple of years before the test is available to the public.

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_{Source: Del Rio, M. and Molina, F. "Gene Expression Signature in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients Select Drugs and Response for the Use of Leucovorin, Fluorouracil, and Irinotecan." Journal of Clinical Oncology 25.7 (1 Mar. 2007): 773-780. Accessed 7 Mar. 2007.}