Study: Flavopiridol Disappoints in Treating Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Flavopiridol, a cell-cycle inhibitor that in early tests had shown some potential for inhibiting the profression of colon cancer, did not by itself provide any benefit to patients with previously untreated advanced colorectal cancer in a phase II trial, according to University of Chicago researchers.

In preclinical tests, this synthetic version of the flavones found in plants had shown promise, in combination with other drugs, as a treatment for several types of cancer.

In this trial, researchers gave flavopiridol to 20 advanced colorectal cancer patients who had not previously received chemotherapy, and evaluated them both for toxicity and response.

The researchers reported in the journal Annals of Oncology that flavopiridol by itself generated no cancer-fighting activity and provided no benefit to these patients.

"Recent preclinical data suggest that flavopiridol enhances apoptosis (death of cancer cells) when combined with chemotherapy," the researchers reported. "Trials that evaluate flavopiridol in combination with active cytotoxic drugs should help to define the role of this novel agent in advanced colorectal cancer."

Other sources: Annals of Oncology