Cancer Control and Gastrointestinal Cancer

Cancer control research at the Mayo Clinic, as it relates to gastrointestinal cancer focuses on the investigation of treatments designed to reduce side effects of treatment for gastrointestinal cancer and symptoms caused by gastrointestinal cancer. Work in this area is currently conducted through the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG), a research group composed of many clinics throughout North America. Leadership of the cancer control effort in the NCCTG is provided by Charles Loprinzi, M.D., who serves as the principle investigator for the cancer control effort, as well as other Mayo Clinic researchers. Dr. Loprinzi also co-leads Mayo Clinic Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program.

Examples of current research include:

• A study, led by Dr. Loprinzi, to evaluate agents designed to reduce hand and foot discomfort related to the use of capecitabine, a commonly used chemotherapy drug in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
• A study led by Lisa Kottschade, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.P., of the anti-oxidant Vitamin E to prevent side effects related to damage to nerves from chemotherapy drugs such as oxaliplatin and cis-platin which are commonly used in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer.
• Aminah Jatoi, M.D., is evaluating the drug octreotide as a possible agent to relieve the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (commonly called ascites), which is a problem that sometimes occurs in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer.
• Dr. Jatoi is also investigating the possible usefulness of tetracycline for reducing skin rashes in patient treated with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, which are commonly used in the treatment of some patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Other initiatives relating to prevention specific gastrointestinal cancers also are ongoing, read more in the other areas of this site.