Camptosar Approved for First-Line Rx of Advanced Colon Cancer

Publication
Article
Oncology NEWS InternationalOncology NEWS International Vol 9 No 6
Volume 9
Issue 6

WASHINGTON-Pharmacia & Upjohn’s Camptosar (irinotecan) has won FDA approval for use as a first-line agent in metastatic colorectal cancer, in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin. [See ONI April 2000, page 3 for the ODAC review.] The agent was approved as a follow-up colorectal cancer treatment in 1996.

WASHINGTON—Pharmacia & Upjohn’s Camptosar (irinotecan) has won FDA approval for use as a first-line agent in metastatic colorectal cancer, in combination with fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin. [See ONI April 2000, page 3 for the ODAC review.] The agent was approved as a follow-up colorectal cancer treatment in 1996.

The new approval is based on two clinical trials showing that Camptosar in addition to standard treatment increased median survival by about 3 months. In one phase III study of 385 previously untreated patients, median survival was 17.4 months with Camptosar vs 14.1 for those randomized to 5-FU/leucovorin alone (P = .031) (Lancet, March 25, 2000).

Articles in this issue
Genentech Issues Warning on Herceptin
How Physicians Can Effect Changes in Health Care Policy
Four From Congress Receive Tsongas Award
NCI Targets Cancer Disparities With Community-Based Programs
Mapping Predicts Nodal Status in Colorectal Cancer Patients
SSO President Tells Members: ‘Remember Your Core Values’
HHS Grants $794 Million in Ryan White Funds to Improve HIV Services
Lower-Dose Topotecan Is Safe and Effective in Resistant or Refractory Ovarian Cancer
Rapid Dose Titration With Controlled-Release Oxycodone
Standard-Dose Chemo May Have Long-Term Cognitive Effects
Book Prepares Children for BMT Procedures
Insufficient Evidence for Antioxidants’ Anticancer Effects: IOM
Conservative Surgery for Ovarian Cancer Preserves Fertility
Positive/Negative Purging System Effective in PBSC Grafts for CLL
Lymphoscintigraphy Maps Extra-axillary Nodal Drainage

Newsletter

Stay up to date on recent advances in the multidisciplinary approach to cancer.

Subscribe Now!
Recent Videos
Those being treated for peritoneal carcinomatosis may not have to experience the complication rates or prolonged recovery associated with surgical options.
For patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, integrating PIPAC into a treatment regimen does not interrupt their systemic therapy.
According to Benjamin J. Golas, MD, PIPAC could be used as a bridging therapy before surgical debulking or between subsequent large surgical operations.
According to Benjamin Golas, MD, PIPAC is emerging as minimally invasive laparoscopic approach for patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis.
According to Ronan J. Kelly, deciding whether to give nivolumab- or durvalumab-based regimens in gastric cancers may rely on a patient’s frailty.
Five-year follow-up revealed that patients treated with nivolumab vs placebo in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 trial experienced a “doubling” of survival.
Patients treated with nivolumab in the phase 3 CheckMate 577 trial were less likely to experience progression-related treatment discontinuation vs placebo.
Testing a patient’s genetics may influence decisions such as using longer courses of radiotherapy, says Rachit Kumar, MD.
Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex immunohistochemistry from samples may elucidate outcomes for patients who undergo surgical care for cancer.
Related Content
Data from the HERIZON-BTC-01 trial evaluating zanidatamab in previously treated, unresectable HER2-positive biliary tract cancer support the decision.

Zanidatamab Receives EU Conditional Marketing Authorization in HER2+ BTC

Roman Fabbricatore
July 2nd 2025
Article

Data from the HERIZON-BTC-01 trial evaluating zanidatamab in previously treated, unresectable HER2-positive biliary tract cancer support the decision.

Benjamin Golas, MD, discusses how the use of PIPAC may work in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy for those with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Harnessing PIPAC to Improve Outcomes in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Benjamin J. Golas, MD
June 30th 2025
Podcast

Benjamin Golas, MD, discusses how the use of PIPAC may work in conjunction with systemic chemotherapy for those with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Data from part B of the DeFianCe study demonstrate a positive overall response rate trend with sirexatamab plus bevacizumab and chemotherapy.

Sirexatamab Combo Significantly Improves PFS in MSS CRC Subgroups

Russ Conroy
June 28th 2025
Article

Data from part B of the DeFianCe study demonstrate a positive overall response rate trend with sirexatamab plus bevacizumab and chemotherapy.

The approval of sotorasib plus panitumumab is a “welcome step” in KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer, according to Marwan G. Fakih, MD.

Sotorasib Combo Approval May Address Novel Therapy Need in KRAS G12C+ CRC

Marwan G. Fakih, MD
February 24th 2025
Podcast

The approval of sotorasib plus panitumumab is a “welcome step” in KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer, according to Marwan G. Fakih, MD.

Elraglusib plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated a median OS of 12.5 months vs 8.5 months with chemotherapy alone in patients with PDAC.

Elraglusib Plus Chemo Improves OS in Metastatic PDAC With Liver Metastases

Tim Cortese
June 27th 2025
Article

Elraglusib plus gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel demonstrated a median OS of 12.5 months vs 8.5 months with chemotherapy alone in patients with PDAC.

Stereotactic online adaptive magnetic resonance guided radiation therapy was well tolerated and maintained stable QOL in patients with PDAC for up to 1 year.

Magnetic Resonance–Guided Radiation May Be Beneficial in Nonmetastatic PDAC

Tim Cortese
June 25th 2025
Article

Stereotactic online adaptive magnetic resonance–guided radiation therapy was well tolerated and maintained stable QOL in patients with PDAC for up to 1 year.