Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. When you were diagnosed, your doctor may have referred to your type of cancer as either colon or rectal cancer—that’s because these cancers, which start in the large intestine, share similar features.

When the cancer has spread outside the colon or rectum to other distant parts of the body, it is called metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). About 70% of colorectal cancers will eventually become metastatic.

The stages of
colorectal cancer

Illustration of stage zero of colorectal cancer (For Illustration Purposes Only)

STAGE

0

This is the earliest stage. Abnormal cells are found within the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.

Illustration of stage one of colorectal cancer (For Illustration Purposes Only)

STAGE

1

The abnormal cells have become cancer. The cancer has grown and spread beyond the inner tissue of the colon or rectum.

Illustration of stage two of colorectal cancer (For Illustration Purposes Only)

STAGE

2

The cancer has grown and spread beyond the outer tissue of the colon or rectum, but it hasn’t reached the lymph nodes.

Illustration of stage three of colorectal cancer (For Illustration Purposes Only)

STAGE

3

The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the colon 
or rectum, or the areas of fat nearby, but not to other parts 
of the body.

Depiction of stage four of metastatic colorectal cancer

STAGE

4

The cancer has spread outside of the colon or rectum to other distant parts of the body. This is when the cancer is metastatic.

depiction of stage zero of colorectal cancer

STAGE

0

This is the earliest stage. Abnormal cells are found within the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.

depiction of stage one of colorectal cancer

STAGE

1

The abnormal cells have become cancer. The cancer has grown and spread beyond the inner tissue of the colon or rectum.

depiction of stage two of colorectal cancer

STAGE

2

The cancer has grown and spread beyond the outer tissue of the colon or rectum, but it hasn’t reached the lymph nodes.

depiction of stage three of colorectal cancer

STAGE

3

The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes near the colon 
or rectum, or the areas of fat nearby, but not to other parts 
of the body.

depiction of stage four of metastatic colorectal cancer

STAGE

4

The cancer has spread outside of the colon or rectum to other distant parts of the body. This is when the cancer is metastatic.

Biomarkers

Biomarkers are specific characteristics that can provide important information about your cancer. They can be proteins, genes, or other substances that help doctors understand your cancer's unique features.

Certain cancers have their own pattern of biomarkers, which you might also hear called “mutations,” “tumor markers,” or “molecular markers.”

A biomarker may be:

test tube icon represents how biomarkers can be found by testing tissue from the colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor or a blood sample

Found by testing tissue from the tumor or a sample of blood.

Double helix icon

Used to help doctors know if the cancer has an abnormal gene that can cause cancer to grow and spread faster.

Knowing whether your cancer has abnormal genes from biomarker testing can help your doctor understand which treatment options might be right for you.

Many people living with mCRC are tested for biomarkers, but they may not know or understand their results.

Talk to your doctor about any test results that could help you better understand your diagnosis.

What is BRAF?

One type of biomarker is called “BRAF.” If your metastatic CRC tested BRAF positive (BRAF+), that means it may have a certain type of abnormal BRAF (V600E) gene. Your doctor may recommend a treatment combination based on your test results and diagnosis.

Understanding Treatment Options

These are general treatment approaches that may be used for people with metastatic colorectal cancer. Your doctor will recommend a treatment option based on your diagnosis.

Surgery

Helps remove tumors and cancerous tissue that are nearby or has spread to other areas.

Chemotherapy

Works by killing fast-growing cells in the body, including cancer cells and healthy cells. Chemotherapy may be prescribed as an oral pill or an infusion administered by your doctor.

Radiation

Uses beams of high energy X-rays to treat cancer and shrink tumors. Radiation works in smaller areas, although it can still affect and damage normal, healthy cells.

Immunotherapy

Works with a person’s own immune system to attack cancer and may also impact healthy cells. Immunotherapy can boost the body’s natural defenses to help fight cancer. It is most commonly administered as an infusion by your doctor.

Targeted therapy

Targets cells with a certain mutation, but it may also affect healthy cells. Targeted treatments may help block signals that tell cancer cells to grow and spread.

Not actual patients.

Community support

No matter where you are in your treatment journey, there are organizations that you can go to for support. The organizations below may help you feel a sense of community with people in a similar situation and may also provide you with useful information.

Colorectal Cancer Alliance

Colon Cancer Coalition

Fight Colorectal Cancer

Colontown

By clicking these links, you will be redirected to websites that are neither owned nor controlled by Pfizer. Pfizer is not responsible for the content or services of these sites. The content provided is for informational purposes only and is not meant to replace your doctor's medical advice.

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BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + CETUXIMAB + FLUOROURACIL-BASED CHEMOTHERAPY (mFOLFOX6 OR FOLFIRI)

Learn how these treatments work.

LEARN MORE

IMPORTANT SAFETY
INFORMATION AND USE

FIND OUT MORE

COLLAPSE

What is BRAFTOVI?
  • BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) is a prescription medicine used in combination with medicines called cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or cetuximab and FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) to treat adults with cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer):
    • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
    • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI is safe and effective in children.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Important information: BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) is used in combination with other medicines, including cetuximab or cetuximab and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy. Talk to your healthcare provider about cetuximab, cetuximab with mFOLFOX6, or cetuximab with FOLFIRI if used with BRAFTOVI.

BRAFTOVI can cause serious side effects, including:

  • Risk of new skin cancers. BRAFTOVI can cause skin cancers called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma. Talk to your healthcare provider about your risk for these cancers.

Check your skin and tell your healthcare provider right away about any skin changes, including a:

    • new wart
    • skin sore or reddish bump that bleeds or does not heal
    • change in size or color of a mole

Your healthcare provider should check your skin before treatment, every 2 months during treatment, and for up to 6 months after you stop treatment to look for any new skin cancers.

Your healthcare provider should also check for cancers that may not occur on the skin. Tell your healthcare provider about any new symptoms that develop during treatment.

  • Heart problems, including heart failure. BRAFTOVI can cause heart problems. Your healthcare provider will check your heart function before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of a heart problem:
    • feeling like your heart is pounding or racing
    • shortness of breath
    • swelling in your hands, ankles, legs, or feet
    • feeling faint or light-headed
  • Liver problems. BRAFTOVI can cause liver problems. Your healthcare provider will perform blood tests to check your liver function before and during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs and symptoms of a liver problem:
    • yellowing of your skin or your eyes
    • dark or brown (tea-colored) urine
    • nausea or vomiting
    • loss of appetite
    • tiredness
    • bruising
    • bleeding
  • Bleeding problems. BRAFTOVI can cause serious bleeding problems, including in your stomach or brain, that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider and get medical help right away if you develop any signs of bleeding, including:
    • headaches, dizziness, or feeling weak
    • cough up blood or blood clots
    • vomit blood or your vomit looks like “coffee grounds”
    • red or black stools that look like tar
    • nose bleeds
  • Eye problems. BRAFTOVI can cause eye problems. Your healthcare provider should perform an eye exam regularly during treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening symptoms of eye problems, including:
    • blurred vision, loss of vision, or other vision changes
    • see colored dots
    • see halos (blurred outline around objects)
    • eye pain, swelling, or redness
  • Changes in the electrical activity of your heart called QT prolongation. QT prolongation can cause irregular heartbeats that can be life-threatening. Your healthcare provider should do tests before you start taking BRAFTOVI and during your treatment to check your body salts (electrolytes). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you feel faint, light-headed, dizzy, or if you feel your heart beating irregularly or fast during treatment with BRAFTOVI. These symptoms may be related to QT prolongation

Your healthcare provider may change your dose, temporarily stop, or permanently stop treatment with BRAFTOVI if you have certain side effects.

Tell your healthcare team if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. BRAFTOVI can harm your unborn baby.

Females who are able to become pregnant:

  • Should use effective nonhormonal birth control (contraception) during treatment with BRAFTOVI and for 2 weeks after the last dose of BRAFTOVI
  • Birth control methods that contain hormones (such as birth control pills, injections, or transdermal systems) may not work as well during treatment with BRAFTOVI
  • Your healthcare provider will do a pregnancy test before you start taking BRAFTOVI. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant or think you might become pregnant during treatment

Talk to your healthcare team if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if BRAFTOVI passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during treatment with BRAFTOVI and for 2 weeks after the last dose of BRAFTOVI.

BRAFTOVI may cause fertility problems in males. This may affect your ability to father a child. Talk to your healthcare provider if this is a concern for you.

The most common side effects of BRAFTOVI when taken in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 for colorectal cancer include: numbness, tingling, or burning in your hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy), nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, bleeding (hemorrhage), stomach-area (abdominal) pain, pain or swelling of your joints (arthralgia), fever, and constipation.

The most common side effects of BRAFTOVI when taken in combination with cetuximab and FOLFIRI for colorectal cancer include: nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, vomiting, hair loss (alopecia), constipation, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, decreased appetite, and rash.

Before taking BRAFTOVI, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

  • have had bleeding problems
  • have eye problems
  • have heart problems, including a condition called long QT syndrome
  • have been told that you have low blood levels of potassium, calcium, or magnesium
  • have liver or kidney problems
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. BRAFTOVI can harm your unborn baby
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. BRAFTOVI and certain other medicines can affect each other, causing side effects or affecting how BRAFTOVI or other medicines work. You should also avoid grapefruit products during treatment with BRAFTOVI.

These are not all of the possible side effects of BRAFTOVI. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or visit www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Pfizer Inc. at 1-800-438-1985.

What is BRAFTOVI?
  • BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) is a prescription medicine used in combination with medicines called cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or cetuximab and FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) to treat adults with cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer):
    • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
    • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI is safe and effective in children.

Please see BRAFTOVI full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide, for additional information.

What is BRAFTOVI?

BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) is a prescription medicine used in combination with medicines called cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or cetuximab and FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) to treat adults with cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer):

  • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
  • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI (encorafenib)?

BRAFTOVI is a prescription medicine used in combination with medicines called cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or cetuximab and FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) to treat adults with cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer):

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib)?

BRAFTOVI is a prescription medicine used:

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF melanoma, wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer, or wild-type BRAF NSCLC. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI or BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.

Close

What is BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI?

BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) is a prescription medicine used:

  • in combination with a prescription medicine called MEKTOVI (binimetinib) to treat adults with a type of skin cancer called melanoma:
    • that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and
    • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene
  • in combination with medicines called cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or cetuximab and FOLFIRI (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan) to treat adults with cancer of the colon or rectum (colorectal cancer):
    • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
    • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene
  • in combination with a medicine called MEKTOVI (binimetinib) to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):
    • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
    • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat adults with wild-type BRAF melanoma, wild-type BRAF colorectal cancer, or wild-type BRAF NSCLC. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI or BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI (binimetinib)?

BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI are prescription medicines used together to treat adults with a type of skin cancer called melanoma:

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat people with wild-type BRAF melanoma. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI?

BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib) are prescription medicines used together to treat adults with a type of skin cancer called melanoma:

  • that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery, and
  • that has a certain type of abnormal “BRAF” gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat people with wild-type BRAF melanoma. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI (binimetinib)?

BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI are prescription medicines used together to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat people with wild-type BRAF NSCLC. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.

What is BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI?

BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib) are prescription medicines used together to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

  • that has spread to other parts of the body, and
  • that has a certain type of abnormal "BRAF" gene

BRAFTOVI should not be used to treat people wild-type BRAF NSCLC. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that BRAFTOVI with MEKTOVI is right for you.

It is not known if BRAFTOVI or MEKTOVI is safe and effective in children.