Triple-Regimen of Vemurafenib, Irinotecan, and Cetuximab for the Treatment of BRAFV600E-Mutant CRC: A Case Report and Review

Antitumor activity of the new tyrphostin briva against BRAFV600E-mutant colorectal carcinoma cells

Because of a reduced sensitivity of BRAF-mutant colorectal cancers to BRAF inhibitor treatment when compared with BRAF-mutant melanoma, it is essential to develop efficient drugs to cope with this disease. The new 2-(4-bromophenyl)-3-arylacrylonitrile compound Briva was prepared in one step from commercially available starting compounds. Briva and two known thiophene analogs (Thio-Iva and Thio-Dam) were tested for their cytotoxic activity against various tumor cell lines including colorectal and breast cancer cells. The antitumor activities of the test compounds were assessed in vitro via the MTT assay, DAPI staining of nuclei, RT-PCR and immunoblotting, wound healing, clonogenic assay, collagen I adhesion assay, and kinase inhibition assays. A selective activity of Briva was observed against BRAFV600E-mutant HT-29 and COLO-201 colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells. Briva caused inhibition of HT-29 clonogenic tumor growth and was found to induce cytotoxicity by activating the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. In addition, Briva reduced HT-29 cell adhesion and migration. Kinase inhibition experiments revealed that Briva inhibits VEGFR2. Thus, Briva can be considered as a promising antitumor compound against BRAFV600E-mutant colon carcinoma by targeting VEGFR2 tyrosine kinase and consequently reducing cell adhesion and metastasis formation.

Case report: Efficacy and safety of regorafenib plus fluorouracil combination therapy in the treatment of refractory metastatic colorectal cancer

Background

More than half of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with metastatic disease or develop recurrent disease on first-line and second-line options. Treatment beyond the second line remains an area of unmet need for patients with progressive or recurrent disease.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data of adult (>18 years old) patients with mCRC who received regorafenib + 5FU combination therapy at Houston Methodist Hospital with outcomes of interest including response rate, discontinuation due to side effects, and overall survival.

Results

Seven patients received regorafenib + 5FU combination therapy for mCRC after receiving at least two other lines of therapy (including at least one fluorouracil-based therapy). Four patients (57%) achieved disease control in 7-12 weeks after therapy initiation while three patients developed recurrent disease. In patients who achieved disease control, no new adverse events were reported among patients with this combination.

Conclusion

Regorafenib and Fluorouracil combination could be considered an option beyond the second line for patients with treatment-refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. Further studies, including a prospective trial, are needed to investigate the efficacy and safety of regorafenib plus 5FU therapy compared to other limited available therapies.

Timeline of FDA-Approved Targeted Therapy for Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) represents approximately 3% of gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide and constitutes around 10-15% of all primary liver cancers, being only second to hepatocellular carcinoma. Mortality from CCA has been on the rise in recent decades, and in the United States alone there has been a 36% increase in CCA from 1999 to 2014, with over 7000 CCA mortalities since 2013. Targeted therapies, which have been gaining interest due to their greater specificity toward cancer cells, have only recently started gaining FDA approval for the treatment of CCA. In this manuscript, we will go through the timeline of current FDA-approved targeted therapies as well as those that have gained FDA breakthrough therapy designation.