Irinotecan and colorectal cancer: the role of p53, VEGF-C and α-B-crystallin expression

We would like to echo and provide additional information on\udthe review paper by Mitry et al. in Int J Colorectal Dis\ud2009;24:605–621, which examined the literature of irinotecan\udas palliative therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. The\udconclusions of the paper are irinotecan therapy clearly\udimproves outcome of the patients and genetic markers may provide more information about the treatment.\ud\udIn our practice, irinotecan is the common second line chemotherapy used for failed first line chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer. However, irinotecan is not without side effects, and not every patient registers a response to\udirinotecan. In the literature, there is lack of study to investigate the factors at molecular level, which can predict the responsiveness of the advanced stages or recurrent colorectal cancer to the irinotecan. Thus, we would like to present our pilot data on the use of molecular makers that may help to identify the patients who can be benefited from irinotecan