The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Approves a New Drug for Advanced (Metastatic) Colorectal (Colon and Rectal) Cancer: Lonsurf (Trifluridine and Tipiracil Combination)

Colorectal cancers are the third most common cancer type in both women and men in our country. Although frequently occurring after age 50, their incidence at younger ages is increasing, particularly in developed societies. With wider use of colonoscopy, a cancer screening test, colorectal cancer can now be recognized very early, and death rates from the disease are decreasing.

Lonsurf, the subject of this article, offers a new ray of hope for advanced colorectal cancer patients who have received many previous treatments and no longer respond to further treatment.

Lonsurf was evaluated in 800 patients with advanced (metastatic) colorectal cancer previously treated with chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Some received Lonsurf and best supportive care, while others received placebo (a dummy drug without active ingredients) and best supportive care. Overall survival and survival without disease progression were measured. Lonsurf was found to extend overall survival in advanced colorectal cancer by an average of 1.8 months.

Dear friends, I consider this new drug, currently approved only in America, a very positive step toward new treatments for advanced colorectal cancer. Let us simply never stop hoping…

For those interested, its mechanism: Lonsurf combines 2 molecules, trifluridine and tipiracil. Trifluridine is a nucleoside analogue, and tipiracil is a thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor. Trifluridine enters DNA during DNA assembly, inhibiting tumor cell growth. Tipiracil prevents trifluridine's rapid metabolism and increased interactions after it enters the body.