GI Malignancies

Question 1

What are the stages of colon cancer?

Answer 1

Stage I: Not full thickness. Stage II: Full thickness invasion. Stage III: LN involvement Stage IV Metastatic spread

Question 2

What is the standard adjuvant treatment for high risk stage II and stage III colon cancer?

Answer 2

FOLFOX (folinic acid [leucovorin], 5-FU, oxaliplatin) for 6 months. All regimens for colon CA use 5-FU generally.

Question 3

How does the treatment for rectal cancer differ from colon cancer?

Answer 3

If full-thickness or +LN, usually receive neoadjuvant chemo and radiation with 5-FU. Still receive 6 months of FOLFOX after.

Question 4

What is capecitabine (Xeloda)?

Answer 4

An oral prodrug for 5-FU used in treatment of colon cancer.

Question 5

What is bevacizumab (Avastin)?

Answer 5

A VEGF inhibitor antibody sometime added to metastatic colon CA regimens.

Question 6

What is the use of K-ras testing in metastatic colon cancer treatment?

Answer 6

If this mutation is not present, than it allows for the use of EGFR and VEGF inhibitors.

Question 7

What rash is seen with EGFR inhibitors cetuximab (erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix)?

Answer 7

Acneiform rash that is uncomfortable and socially debilitating but correlates with treatment response to the drug.