FOxTROT 4
Status: Open
About one in ten patients diagnosed with stage 2 or stage 3 bowel cancer will have a specific genetic mutation. It’s called a BRAF mutation. This BRAF mutation can mean, despite receiving the standard treatment, an increased risk of your cancer getting worse and the cancer coming back after treatment.
Neoadjuvant treatment means anti-cancer drugs are given before surgery. It is now an option for some bowel cancers. FOxTROT 4 tests the safety and effectiveness of two neoadjuvant treatments. These are standard chemotherapy and new ‘targeted’ drugs. A ‘targeted’ drug is one which targets and attacks specific genes and proteins that help cancer cells survive and grow. These targeted treatments have been shown to be effective for patients with BRAFV600E mutations where their bowel cancer has already spread (stage 4 bowel cancer).
Upon joining the FOxTROT 4 research, you would be randomly assigned to one of these two treatment approaches. The first approach consists of having 6 weeks of two standard chemotherapy drugs, similar to the drugs used in the FOxTROT 1 research. In the other treatment approach, you would have 6 weeks of two ‘targeted’ drugs.
After taking the course of drugs you would undergo surgery to remove the remaining tumour. After recovery from surgery, you would have follow up appointments to decide if further treatment is required. After completing any extra treatment you will join the normal cancer surveillance programme.
You would need to meet criteria to join the research. Full details are in the FOxTROT 4 Patient Information Leaflet (see link below).
As FOxTROT 4 is a ‘phase 2 trial’, only 45 patients can take part in this research.
FOxTROT 4 Patient Information Sheet
For more detail on what the research might involve for you, please read the FOxTROT 4 Patient Information Sheet or speak to the team treating you.