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. 2015 May 21;2015:420159. doi: 10.1155/2015/420159

Table 2.

List of chemotherapeutic and biologic agents for patients with mCRC.

Pharmacokinetics Metabolism Comments
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) [13] T 1/2 16 minutes (range 8–20 minutes)
Excreted via lung (as CO2) and urine
Hepatic by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) to active metabolites 5-fluoroxyuridine monophosphate (F-UMP) and 5-5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-O-monophosphate (F-dUMP) Limited data in patients with total bilirubin > 5, may be treated with weekly infusion without adjustment [4].

Oxaliplatin [14] Protein bound
T 1/2 0.43 to 16.8 hours (distribution) and 391 hours (terminal)
Urinary excretion
Nonenzymatic No apparent alteration in clearance or toxicity in patients with severe liver dysfunction [3, 15, 16].

Irinotecan [17] SN-38 protein bound
T 1/2 irinotecan 6–12 hours; SN-38 ~10–20 hours
Excreted via urine 11–20% and via biliary tract
Hydrolyzed in the liver to active metabolite SN-38 which is further metabolized by glucuronidation by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1-1 (also known as UGT1A1) In patients with varying degrees of liver dysfunction, severe side effects, poor tolerability, and overall worsening of PS were noted. [2, 18, 19]

TAS-102 [10, 20]; combination drug consisting of alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluorothymidine (FTD) and thymidine phosphorylase inhibitor (TPI) Readily absorbed
T 1/2 FTD 1.4 hours, TPI 1.7–2.1 hours
Limited urinary excretion FTD; TPI 29% excreted via urine
FTD undergoes hepatic metabolism, TPI minimal hepatic metabolism Phase-I studies in patients with hepatic impairment are ongoing.

Regorafenib [21] T 1/2 for the drug 28 hours (14 to 58 hours; some metabolites may take longer for excretion, 32 to 70 hours) Hepatic by CYP3A4 and UGT1A9 Severe drug induced liver injury has been reported with the use of drug; its use in patients with liver dysfunction would generally be avoided and requires close monitoring of liver function tests.

Monoclonal antibodies [5] T 1/2 long: days to weeks No liver metabolism/clearance Generally acceptable to use if there are no other contraindications.

Anti-VEGF antibodies (bevacizumab/aflibercept) and antiepidermal growth factor (EGFR) antibodies (panitumumab/cetuximab) [1].