Keyword: colon cancer

Can peritoneal carcinomatosis of colorectal origin be treated with oral everolimus alone or in combination with capecitabine? Preliminary results

Background: We wanted to evaluate the effectiveness of oral everolimus alone and in combination with capecitabine treatment on colorectal cancer-induced peritoneal carcinomatosis animal model. Methods: Caco-2 colon adenocarcinoma cells were injected intraperitoneally to BALB/cOlaHsd-Foxn1nu mice to establish peritoneal carcinomatosis. Mice were divided into four groups (everolimus, everolimus plus capecitabine, capecitabine, control group) with 2 mice in each group. Treatment was initiated 5 days after inoculation of Caco-2 cells. 7.5 mg/kg everolimus was administered orally every 2 days. 2.1 mmol/kg capecitabine was administered orally every 5 days a week. 22 days after inoculation of Caco-2 cells, mice were sacrificed. Results: The mean weight of the tumor was 25 ± 7.07 mg in the control group (n=2); 0.7 ± 0.7 mg in the everolimus group (n=2); 0.28 ± 0.36 mg in the capecitabine group; 0.48 ± 0.07 mg in the everolimus plus capecitabine group. Conclusion: Tumor samples excised from BALB/cOlaHsd-Foxn1nu mice revealed that everolimus alone, and in combination with capecitabine suppressed tumor growth. However, a comparison of tumor weights revealed no statistically significant difference within the four groups (p=0.227). To reach statistically significant data, the sample size should be increased.

Cardiotoxicity of Chemotherapy in Lynch Syndrome – A Literature Review

Chemotherapy is an important treatment in oncological disease, with a vast number of side effects. The cardiotoxicity of several chemotherapeutic agents and appropriate risk stratification and patient follow-up must be ensured by a multidisciplinary team which must include an oncologist and a cardiologist. Lynch syndrome is associated with younger-onset malignant tumors of various localizations, requiring aggressive chemotherapy. FOLFOX chemotherapy which is frequently used in Lynch syndrome-associated colorectal cancer has several cardiotoxic effects with mechanisms ranging from increased reactive oxidative species to Krebs cycle blockade or coronary vasospasm. These complex effects on the cardiovascular system have varied clinical effects, such as heart failure, arrhythmias, or acute ischemic events.