New bowel cancer drugs – fact behind the hype

Total Health | November 25th, 2009

Expert Comment on Daily Mail Bowel Cancer Story

The entire front cover of the Daily Mail yesterday was devoted to a pharmaceutical company product – Avastin: “Bowel cancer victims denied life-prolonging treatment that’s free in Europe.”

We therefore asked the top London teaching hospital Bowel Surgeon Austin Obichere what was going on here:

“Denying NHS patients the proven benefits of Avastin is arguably morally wrong, but this must not overshadow the potential life threatening side-effects of these drugs”.

Clinical trials demonstrate the benefit of drugs like Avastin and other monoclonal antibodyOne of a group of special proteins in the blood that are produced in response to a specific antigen and play a key role in immunity and allergy. agents in some patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and arguably, it is morally wrong to deny NHS patients this life-prolonging drug. However, there is ongoing debate between clinicians on the one hand and Health Economists on the other, whether the drug’s advantages, translated as prolonging one’s life by an average of 5 months and maintaining disease remissionThe lessening or disappearance of the symptoms or signs of a disease. or control, justify the cost of treatment.

Avastin is known to work by cutting off the bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. supply to the tumourAn abnormal swelling. cells, starving them of oxygen and nutrients which may result in cancer shrinkage and surgical removal in some cases. Unfortunately, not all patients respond to treatment and at best, only half of them receiving Avastin will derive any measurably benefit. Furthermore, this agent can cause an increase in blood pressureThe pressure of blood within the arteries., blood clots in arteries / veins, and serious surgical complications such as intestinalrelating to the intestines, the digestive tract between the stomach and the anus perforationThe formation of a hole in an organ or tissue. and impaired wound healing. Timing of an operation is therefore critical in order to avoid or minimise these side-effects and improve the outcome in patients requiring surgery.

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Expert articles

Bowel Cancer Screening

By Mr Austin Obichere, Consultant Laparoscopic & Colorectal SurgeonContact
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic

As the most common cause of death from cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body., this article is essential reading for anyone who wants to know more about improving the outcome. In particular, it answers questions such as:

  • Do I have symptoms of bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancer?
  • What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?
  • Should I be tested for bowel cancer?
  • What’s involved in getting tested?
  • What has been learned from bowel cancer screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to trials?
  • Does inflammatory bowel diseaseA group of inflammatory conditions of the intestine. The two major forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. increase risk of cancer?
  • Does the new bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. test for bowel cancer work?

Identification of new gene variants linked to Bowel Cancer

By totalhealth, Authoritative medical information

CANCER RESEARCH UK funded scientists have discovered four new geneticRelating to the genes, the basic units of genetic material. variants linked to bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. by combining data from three major genome studies, reveals a study published in Nature Genetics*. Pooling the data in this way created the largest study of its kind, involving over 45,000 volunteers with and without bowel cancer, allowing previously undetected genetic sites to be pinpointed.

Liver Metastases: What can be done when bowel cancer has spread to the liver

By Mr Giuseppe Kito Fusai, Consultant Liver SurgeonContact
The Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, The Royal Free Private Patients Unit

Bowel cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. can spread (metastasise) to various other organs, most commonly to the liverA large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats.. Liver metastasesSecondary tumours’ that result from the spread of a malignant tumour to other parts of the body. occur in more than half of patients with bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancer and can often be treated surgically, or in combination with other treatment modalities. This article describes how this can be accomplished safely, and highlights the importance of multidisciplinaryRelating to a group of healthcare professionals with different areas of specialisation. management for patients.

Treatment strategies for colorectal cancer

By Mr Austin Obichere, Consultant Laparoscopic & Colorectal SurgeonContact
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic

Bowel cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. is a major health problem in the United Kingdom. Men and women are equally affected by the disease and improved survival is dependent on the diagnosisThe process of determining which condition a patient may have. and surgical treatment of early stage disease (no cancerousMalignant, a tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. spread to the lymphA watery or milky bodily fluid containing lymphocytes, proteins and fats. Lymph accumulates outside the blood vessels in the intercellular spaces of the body tiisues and is collected by the vessels of the lymphatic system. glands or distant organs). It is now widely accepted that most bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancers arise from pre-cancerous polypsGrowths on the surface of a mucous membrane (a surface that secretes mucous), lining any body cavity that opens to the outside of the body., and that early detection of these polyps (screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to) offers the opportunity to prevent bowel cancer developing and to treat the condition before it progresses to an advanced stage. A smaller proportion of bowel cancers are inherited and a detailed family history by the specialist is required to identify those who may be at risk of the disease.

An early diagnosis of bowel cancer is critical.

Recent news

Curry for bowel cancer

Total Health | May 8th, 2012

Researchers at the University of Leicester believe that curcumin, one of the components of the popular curry spice turmeric, may significantly reduce the side effects of chemotherapyThe use of chemical substances to treat disease, particularly cancer. in bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. patients. This would have positive consequences for people receiving chemotherapy for bowel cancer as the treatment could be tolerated for longer resulting in more successful treatments.

Bowel cancer awareness month: Daily aspirin cuts death risk

Total Health | April 25th, 2012

A study of bowelA common name for the large and/or small intestines. cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. patients in The Netherlands found that patients who took low doses of aspirinOne of the most used medicines. every day reduced their mortality risk by almost a third. Aspirin has been used for many years as a painkiller and is now recommended for people suffering from heart disease to prevent heart attackThe death of a section of heart muscle caused by an interruption in its blood supply. Also called a myocardial infarction. and strokeAny sudden neurological problem caused by a bleed or a clot in a blood vessel.. This study adds to previous studies which have found that “…aspirin not only can prevent cancer from occurring but if it is there it can help prevent it spreading…” according to lead researcher, Dr Gerrit-Jan Liefers.

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