irinotecan + fluorouracil + leucovorin calcium

Irinotecan + fluorouracil + leucovorin calcium, widely known as FOLFIRI, is a combination chemotherapy regimen primarily used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. Irinotecan is a topoisomerase I inhibitor that induces DNA damage and apoptosis in rapidly dividing cancer cells. Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, disrupting DNA synthesis, while leucovorin calcium (folinic acid) is not a chemotherapy agent itself but enhances the binding of 5-FU to thymidylate synthase, thereby increasing its antitumor efficacy. This regimen has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall response rates compared to standard fluorouracil and leucovorin therapy alone.

Brand names

FOLFIRI

Other names

irinotecan de Gramontirinotecan modified de Gramont