Metformin Treatment Does Not Inhibit Growth of Pancreatic Cancer Patient-Derived Xenografts.

There is currently tremendous interest in developing anti-cancer therapeutics targeting cell signaling pathways important for both cancer cell metabolism and growth. Several epidemiological studies have shown that diabetic patients taking metformin have a decreased incidence of pancreatic cancer. This has prompted efforts to evaluate metformin, a drug with negligible toxicity, as a therapeutic modality in pancreatic cancer.

A two-cohort phase I study of weekly oxaliplatin and gemcitabine, then oxaliplatin, gemcitabine, and erlotinib during radiotherapy for unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

Objectives: Gemcitabine is a potent radiosensitizer. When combined with standard radiotherapy (XRT) the gemcitabine dose must be reduced to about 10% of its conventional dose. Oxaliplatin and erlotinib also have radiosensitizing properties.

Optimal delivery of cytotoxic chemotherapy for colon cancer.

Colon cancer is treated adjuvantly with 5-flourouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin, most commonly as part of the FOLFOX regimen, which has less toxicity than the older regimen FLOX (bolus 5-FU and oxaliplatin) that has fallen out of favor. For patients who cannot tolerate oxaliplatin, 5-FU can be given as a single agent. Patients with metastatic disease may be treated with a number of regimens, including FOLFOX and FOLFIRI; however, the environment is a not a monotonous vanilla and chocolate FOLFOX and FOLFIRI.

A phase I study of bortezomib in combination with standard 5-fluorouracil and external-beam radiation therapy for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic rectal cancer.

Background: Standard therapy for stage II/III rectal cancer consists of a fluoropyrimidine and radiation therapy followed by surgery. Preclinical data demonstrated that bortezomib functions as a radiosensitizer in colorectal cancer models. The purpose of this study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of bortezomib in combination with chemotherapy and radiation.

Colon cancer in older adults.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy in the elderly. Randomized trials have demonstrated that adjuvant and palliative chemotherapy for CRC improves survival and quality of life. Unfortunately, there is a lack of evidence-based data about elderly patients to guide decisions regarding therapy.