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Updated: May 16, 2026

Detection of a Circulating MicroRNA Custom Panel in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Published on: March 14, 2019
Lack of Bax expression is associated with irinotecan-based treatment activity in advanced colorectal cancer patients
F Pietrantonio1, P Biondani, M Milione
1Medical Oncology Unit 1, Medical Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Via Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy. filippo.pietrantonio@istitutotumori.mi.it
Background:
Currently, first-line chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer is not tailored on predictive biomarkers. Bax proapoptotic protein may correlate to chemosensitivity and differential response to irinotecan or oxaliplatin-based combinations.
Methods:
Bax expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry in 49 advanced colorectal cancer patients enrolled at our institution from 2002 to 2004 within a multicenter, phase II, randomized trial of first-line UFT/leucovorin/irinotecan (TEGAFIRI) versus UFT/leucovorin/oxaliplatin (TEGAFOX).
Results:
Bax-positive and negative samples were 49 and 51 %. Response was significantly lower in Bax positive (25 %) as compared to Bax negative (56 %) (Odds ratio = 0.26; p = 0.03). No significant difference was noted in TEGAFOX subgroup; in TEGAFIRI arm, responses were lower in Bax positive (18 %) than Bax negative (67 %) (Odds ratio = 0.11; p = 0.03). No difference in terms of progression-free and overall survival was observed according to Bax.
Conclusion:
Bax-negative colorectal cancer may identify a specific phenotype of patients with significantly higher chance to respond to doublet irinotecan-based chemotherapy.
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