Useful CC glossary, (includes Folfiri, Folfox, Fufox,Irox, etc.)

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Glossary of Terms

ADL: activities of daily living.

AIO regimen: an infusional chemotherapy regimen that includes high-

dose fluorouracil and leucovorin, administered weekly for 6 weeks.

AUC: area under the plasma concentration time curve; measurement of

plasma drug concentration.

COX-2: cyclooxygenase-2; an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of

prostaglandins from arachidonic acid.

de Gramont regimen: a chemotherapy regimen that includes infusional

fluorouracil and leucovorin, administered every 2 weeks.

Dysesthesia: an unpleasant abnormal sensation produced by normal

stimuli.

FOLFIRI: a chemotherapy regimen that includes FOLinic acid,

Fluorouracil, and IRInotecan, administered every 2 weeks. In FOLFIRI,

fluorouracil is administered both by intravenous bolus and by

infusion, whereas in IFL, fluorouracil is administered solely by

intravenous bolus.

FOLFOX regimens: chemotherapy regimens such as FOLFOX4, FOLFOX6, or

FOLFOX7 that include FOLinic acid, Fluorouracil, and OXaliplatin.

Depending on the regimen, fluorouracil is administered both by bolus

and infusion or by infusion alone. Only FOLFOX4 is currently approved

by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of

colorectal cancer.

Folinic acid: a derivative of folic acid that is used as the calcium

salt, leucovorin calcium. Leucovorin is a mixture of the

diastereoisomers of the 5-formyl derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid

(THF). The biologically active compound of the mixture is the L-

isomer, known as Citrovorum factor, or L-folinic acid. The terms

folinic acid and leucovorin generally are used interchangeably.

However, the leucovorin product available in the United States is the

racemic mixture (ie, contains equal amounts of L-folinic acid and D-

folinic acid). When L-folinic acid is used, it is administered at

half the dose of leucovorin (the racemic mixture).

FUFOX: a chemotherapy regimen that includes high-dose 5-FU, Folinic

acid, and Oxaliplatin, administered on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 every 36

days. Fluorouracil is administered by infusion.

Hypoesthesia: abnormally decreased sensitivity, particularly to touch.

IFL: a chemotherapy regimen, also known as the Saltz regimen, that

includes Irinotecan, Fluorouracil, and Leucovorin, administered

weekly for 4 weeks every 6 weeks. Fluorouracil and leucovorin are

administered by intravenous bolus.

IROX: a chemotherapy regimen that includes IRinotecan and

Oxaliplatin, administered every 3 weeks.

Leucovorin: the calcium salt of folinic acid. Leucovorin is a mixture

of the diastereoisomers of the 5-formyl derivative of tetrahydrofolic

acid (THF). The biologically active compound of the mixture is the L-

isomer, known as Citrovorum factor, or L-folinic acid. The terms

leucovorin and folinic acid generally are used interchangeably.

However, the leucovorin product available in the United States is the

racemic mixture (ie, contains equal amounts of L-folinic acid and D-

folinic acid). When L-folinic acid is used, it is administered at

half the dose of leucovorin (the racemic mixture).

Mayo Clinic regimen: a chemotherapy regimen that includes bolus

fluorouracil and leucovorin, administered monthly.

Paresthesia: an abnormal touch sensation, such as prickling or

burning, often in the absence of external stimuli.

Pharyngolaryngeal dysesthesia: an acute subjective sensation of

dysphagia or dyspnea, without any laryngospasm or bronchospasm (no

stridor or wheezing).

PICC line: peripherally inserted central catheter; a catheter

inserted into a peripheral vein in the arm and fed into the superior

vena cava so that the catheter tip lies close to the heart.

PPE: palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia; a progressive syndrome

causing damage to the soft tissues of the hands and feet that is

associated with several chemotherapeutic agents.

VAD: vascular access device; a general term for a catheter inserted

into a central vein that can remain in place for an extended period

of time. VADs are used to administer chemotherapy or to draw blood

without repeated venipuncture.