Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 7, 2013; 19(5): 769-772
Published online Feb 7, 2013. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i5.769
Degarelix as a new antiangiogenic agent for metastatic colon cancer?
Francois Ghiringhelli, Nicolas Isambert, Sylvain Ladoire
Francois Ghiringhelli, Nicolas Isambert, Sylvain Ladoire, Unite Mixte de Recherche 866, Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale/Universite de Bourgogne, 21000 Dijon, France
Francois Ghiringhelli, Nicolas Isambert, Sylvain Ladoire, Departement of Oncologie Medicale, Centre Georges Francois Leclerc, 21000 Dijon, France
Author contributions: Ghiringhelli F, Isambert N and Ladoire S contributed to write and revise the paper.
Correspondence to: Francois Ghiringhelli, MD, PhD, Departement of Oncologie Medicale, Centre Georges Francois Leclerc, 1 rue du Professeur Marion, 21000 Dijon, France. fghiringhelli@cgfl.fr
Telephone: +33-3-8393353 Fax: +33-3-8393434
Received: August 31, 2012
Revised: December 18, 2012
Accepted: December 22, 2012
Published online: February 7, 2013
Processing time: 158 Days and 16.6 Hours
Abstract

Recently, follicle stimulating hormone receptor was found to be selectively expressed by endothelial cells on tumor-associated blood vessels in a wide range of human cancers. In this context, we hypothesized that degarelix, a new gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonist developed for patients with prostate cancer, may have antiangiogenic effects via its capacity to block follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) production. We report the case of a patient with metastatic colon cancer exhibiting tumor progression after failure of all conventional chemotherapeutic regimens. The addition of degarelix to the last chemotherapeutic regimen was proposed as compassionate treatment. Degarelix induced a rapid decrease in FSH level. This treatment induced radiological stabilization and carcinoembryonic antigen stabilization during 1 year. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography demonstrated reduction of tumor vasclature. This case represents the first report of an antitumoral effect of degarelix in metastatic colon cancer and suggests an antiangiogenic property of this drug.

Keywords: Colon cancer; Degarelix; Chemotherapy; Angiogenesis; Antiangiogenic agents