FOLFIRI

FOLFIRI is a chemotherapy regimen for treatment of colorectal cancer. It is made up of the following drugs:

• FOL – folinic acid (leucovorin), a vitamin B derivative used as a "rescue" drug for high doses of the drug methotrexate and that modulates/potentiates/reduces the side effects of fluorouracil;
• F – fluorouracil (5-FU), a pyrimidine analog and antimetabolite which incorporates into the DNA molecule and stops synthesis; and
• IRI – irinotecan (Camptosar), a topoisomerase inhibitor, which prevents DNA from uncoiling and duplicating.

Cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor receptor, is sometimes added to FOLFIRI.

The regimen consists of:

• Irinotecan (180 mg/m² IV over 90 minutes) concurrently with folinic acid (400 mg/m² [or 2 x 250 mg/m²] IV over 120 minutes).
• Followed by fluorouracil (400-500 mg/m² IV bolus) then fluorouracil (2400-3000 mg/m² intravenous infusion over 46 hours).

This cycle is typically repeated every two weeks. The dosages shown above may vary from cycle to cycle.

Also see

• IFL chemotherapy
• Dose-dense chemotherapy