FOLFIRI + vandetanib

FOLFIRI + vandetanib is a combination chemotherapy regimen that pairs the standard FOLFIRI protocol with the targeted therapy drug vandetanib. This combination represents an approach that combines traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy with targeted molecular therapy. ## What is FOLFIRI? FOLFIRI is a chemotherapy combination that includes three components: - **Folinic acid** (also called leucovorin or calcium folinate): Not a chemotherapy drug itself, but enhances the effectiveness of fluorouracil - **Fluorouracil** (5-FU): A pyrimidine analog and antimetabolite that disrupts DNA synthesis, preventing cancer cell division - **Irinotecan**: A topoisomerase I inhibitor that prevents DNA from uncoiling and duplicating, blocking DNA replication and causing cancer cell death The standard FOLFIRI regimen is administered in 2-week cycles and typically consists of: - Irinotecan (180 mg/m²) given intravenously over 30-120 minutes - Folinic acid (400 mg/m²) given intravenously over 2 hours - Fluorouracil as both an initial bolus injection and then as a continuous infusion over 46 hours via a portable pump ## What is Vandetanib? Vandetanib is a targeted therapy drug that works as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It targets multiple cellular pathways involved in cancer growth, including: - Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) - Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) - RET (rearranged during transfection) tyrosine kinase ## FOLFIRI + Vandetanib Combination The combination of FOLFIRI with vandetanib represents a treatment approach that targets cancer through multiple mechanisms: 1. **Cytotoxic effects** from the FOLFIRI components that directly damage DNA and prevent cell division 2. **Anti-angiogenic effects** from vandetanib's inhibition of VEGFR, which blocks the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow 3. **Growth signal inhibition** through vandetanib's blocking of EGFR, which prevents cancer cells from receiving signals to grow and divide 4. **RET inhibition** which is particularly relevant in certain types of thyroid cancer This combination may be used in clinical trials or treatment protocols for advanced colorectal cancer and potentially other gastrointestinal cancers, especially when standard treatments have failed. The addition of vandetanib to FOLFIRI aims to improve efficacy by targeting both the cancer cells directly and their supporting blood vessel growth. As with other combination therapies, patients receiving FOLFIRI + vandetanib would need careful monitoring for side effects, as the combination may increase the risk of toxicities compared to either treatment alone.

Brand names

Caprelsa (vandetanib)Camptosar (irinotecan; FOLFIRI component)

Other names

vandetanib + FOLFIRIvandetanib with folinic acid, fluorouracil, and irinotecan