Impact of primary tumor location as a predictive factor in patients suffering from colorectal cancer treated with cytotoxic anticancer agents based on the collagen gel droplet-embedded drug sensitivity test

Effect of irinotecan-assisted FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen on serum levels of tumor markers, miR-200a, and miR-190 in patients with colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

At present, surgery is still the main treatment for colorectal cancer, and postoperative chemotherapy and targeted drug therapy are used as auxiliary treatments. Since targeted drugs are restricted by genetic and price factors, chemotherapy drugs are still the first choice for treatment. Many studies have demonstrated that drug combination can inhibit the growth of cancer cells in more ways, and its efficacy is better than single drug chemotherapy.

AIM

To investigate the application value of irinotecan-assisted FOLFOX chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 92 patients with colorectal cancer treated at our hospital from March 2017 to February 2019 were selected and divided into a study group (n = 46) and a control group (n = 46) based on a simple random number table. On the basis of targeted therapy, the control group received the FOLFOX regimen, and the study group received irinotecan-assisted FOLFOX chemotherapy regimen. Tumor control rate, serum levels of tumor markers, miR-200a, miR-190, serum transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), and insulin-like growth factor Ⅱ (IGF-Ⅱ), and the incidence of toxic and side effects were compared between the two groups. The patient were followed for 12 mo, and the survival rates of the two groups were calculated.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the tumor control rate between the study group (71.74%) and control group (65.22%; P > 0.05). After treatment, serum levels of CEA, CA125, CA199, CA72-4, TGF-α, and IGF-Ⅱ in the study group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05), and the expression of serum miR-200a and miR-190 in the study group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). No grade 4 toxic and side effects occurred in either group, and there was no significant difference in the incidence of toxic and side effects between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in survival rates at 6 mo, 9 mo, and 12 mo after treatment between the study group (95.56%, 88.89%, and 80.00%) and control group (91.11%, 75.56%, and 64.44%; P > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSION

The combination of FOLFOX chemotherapy and irinotecan in the treatment of colorectal cancer can reduce the serum levels of tumor markers, TGF-α, and IGF-Ⅱ, regulate the expression of miR-200a andmiR-190, but does not increase the risk of adverse reactions.