Malignant Neoplasms of the Small Intestine Medication

  • Author: N Joseph Espat, MD, MS, FACS; Chief Editor: Jules E Harris, MD   more...
 
Updated: Dec 2, 2011
 

Medication Summary

No standard regimen demonstrates benefit in an adjuvant or metastatic setting for small-bowel adenocarcinoma. Because of the similarity to colorectal adenocarcinoma, a regimen containing 5-FU with leucovorin (ie, Roswell Park, Mayo Clinic) may be used. Newer agents active in colorectal carcinoma, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin, may also be considered, in combination with 5-FU. Small-bowel sarcomas, most of which are c-kit –positive GISTs, are resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, patients with advanced disease may be treated with imatinib.

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Chemotherapeutic agents

Class Summary

Chemical substances or drugs that treat neoplastic diseases by interfering with DNA synthesis.

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Fluorouracil (Adrucil)

 

Fluorinated pyrimidine analog. Metabolite, FdUMP, inhibits thymidylate synthase that is essential in folate metabolism. 5-FU metabolites FUTP and FdUTP inhibit RNA and DNA synthesis by incorporating into RNA and DNA, respectively.

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Leucovorin (Wellcovorin)

 

Racemic mixture of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate. Metabolized to reduced folate 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, which forms ternary complex with FdUMP and thymidylate synthase, enhancing inhibition of the latter.

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Irinotecan (Camptosar)

 

Camptothecin derivative that inhibits topoisomerase I, resulting in double-stranded DNA damage. Approved as first-line therapy in combination with 5-FU and leucovorin or as second-line, single-agent therapy after 5-FU for advanced colorectal cancer.

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Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)

 

Organoplatinum complex that acts as an alkylating agent. Metabolites cross-link with DNA, inhibiting DNA synthesis and function. Combination with 5-FU and leucovorin (FOLFOX 4 regimen) is approved for treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.

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Tyrosine kinase inhibitors

Class Summary

Inhibit tyrosine kinase activity of c-kit,bcr-abl, and PDGFR oncogenes.

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Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec)

 

Small molecule that selectively inhibits tyrosine kinase activity of c-kit,bcr-abl, and PDGFR. Available in 100-mg caps.

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Multikinase inhibitors

Class Summary

Elicit actions via multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors implicated in tumor growth, pathologic angiogenesis, and metastatic progression.

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Sunitinib (Sutent)

 

Mulitkinase inhibitor that targets several tyrosine kinase inhibitors implicated in tumor growth, pathologic angiogenesis, and metastatic progression. Inhibits platelet-derived growth factor receptors (ie, PDGFR-alpha, PDGFR-beta), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (ie, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3), stem cell factor receptor (KIT), Fms-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3), colony-stimulating factor receptor type 1 (CSF-1R), and the glial cell-line derived neurotrophic factor receptor (RET).

Indicated for persons with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) whose disease has progressed or who are unable to tolerate treatment with imatinib (Gleevec). Delays median time to tumor progression.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

N Joseph Espat, MD, MS, FACS  Harold J Wanebo Professor and Chief of Surgical Oncology, Director, Adele R Decof Cancer Center, Vice-Chair of Department of Surgery, Roger Williams Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine

N Joseph Espat, MD, MS, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Surgeons, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, American Medical Association, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Association for Academic Surgery, Central Surgical Association, Chicago Medical Society, International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Pancreas Club, Sigma Xi, Society for Leukocyte Biology, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, Society of Surgical Oncology, Society of University Surgeons, Southeastern Surgical Congress, Southern Medical Association, and Surgical Infection Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Ponnandai S Somasundar, MD, FACS  Assistant Chief of Surgical Oncology, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Boston University; Hepatopancreatobiliary/Surgical Oncologist, Roger Williams Medical Center

Ponnandai S Somasundar, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Association of Surgeons of India, and Society of Surgical Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Piero Marco Fisichella, MD  Assistant Professor of Surgery, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University; Director, Esophageal Motility Center, Loyola University Medical Center

Piero Marco Fisichella, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Association for Academic Surgery, Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, and Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Lodovico Balducci, MD  Professor of Oncology and Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine; Division Chief, Senior Adult Oncology Program, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Benjamin Movsas, MD  Vice-Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Benjamin Movsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Radium Society, and American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Jules E Harris, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Arizona Cancer Center

Jules E Harris, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Research, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, and Central Society for Clinical Research

Disclosure: GlobeImmune Salary Consulting

Additional Contributors

eMedicine extends its thanks to Alfred I Neugut, MD, PhD , Head, Cancer Prevention and Control, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center; Professor, Department of Medicine and Public Health, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Allen C Chen, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, New York University School of Medicine for previous versions of this article.

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