Future use for Co-factor
The article in NEJM may signal the beginning of a trend to start treatment for the prevention of colon cancer rather than the cure of serious cases.
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October 10, 2007 — Computed tomographic colonography (CTC), also known as virtual colonoscopy, produced similar rates of detection for advanced neoplasia vs optical colonoscopy (OC), researchers report. The results of this large comparative study, which appears in the October 4 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, suggest that primary CTC along with selective OC should be considered as a preferred screening strategy.
"Virtual colonoscopy is an effective method of colorectal screening, with less risk of complications as compared to optical colonoscopy," said lead author David H. Kim, MD, from the Department of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Seven colonic perforations were observed in the optical colonoscopy group, and 4 patients required surgery to repair the injury. However, there were no perforations or any other serious procedure-related complications observed in the CTC group. "CTC is less invasive and some patients prefer to go this route," he told Medscape Oncology in an interview. "The screening population is a very heterogenous group and some patients prefer one method over another."
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People are much more willing to be Xrayed than undergo colonoscopy. Cancer may be detected very early, depending on the sensitivity of the test.
I think that Xeloda and Co-factor may work together when given orally, but is has been shown that leucovorin won't help Xeloda when it is given orally. The goal of Co-factor will be to reduce the amount of Xeloda required to prevent
tumor growth or mestastisis to where the toxicity is not a problem and the cost is reasonable for most people over a long term.
Now the Xeloda is so expensive that only the wealthy could consider long term use. But the basic patent runs out in November 2008, they have extensions for almost 2 years I think. Once Xeloda becomse generic in about 2010 the cost will drop dramatically I believe.
If Co-Factor will work orally to reduce the amount of Xeloda needed for treatment, there will be a big market for Xeloda.
Norman |
