Introduction
The fixed-dose combination of trifluridine / tipiracil (trade name: Lonsurf) has been approved in Germany since September 2019 for the treatment of advanced gastric (stomach) cancer. It is a treatment option for adults with stomach cancer that progresses despite previous treatments.
Stomach cancer is caused by the malignant growth of glandular cells in the mucous membranes lining the stomach. The passage between the food pipe and stomach can be affected as well.
Stomach cancer is most common in people over the age of 60. At first it causes general symptoms like stomach ache, nausea and loss of appetite or weight. So it can go unnoticed for a while, or be mistaken for other stomach conditions. Another possible symptom is dark or black stool (poo) – also called tarry stool – caused by bleeding in the stomach.
The cancer tumor is surgically removed, if possible. But sometimes it has already become too large or the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastasis) through the blood or lymphatic system. It is then called advanced gastric (stomach) cancer.
The combination of the drugs trifluridine and tiparicil is believed to slow down the growth of the tumor cells.