FOLFIRINOX is a combination chemotherapy treatment that includes several medications working together to fight pancreatic cancer. It combines three chemotherapy drugs: fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan, and oxaliplatin, along with leucovorin (also known as folinic acid) which helps the other medications work better. This treatment is used either before and after surgery (perioperative) or only after surgery (adjuvant) for patients with pancreatic cancer that can be removed by surgery.

The medications in FOLFIRINOX work in different ways: fluorouracil stops cancer cells from making new DNA, irinotecan prevents cancer cells from dividing and growing, and oxaliplatin damages the DNA in cancer cells. When used together, these medications can be more effective at treating pancreatic cancer than when used alone.

Pancreatic Cancer – A condition that develops when abnormal cells begin growing in the pancreas, forming tumors that affect the organ’s ability to function normally. The disease typically starts in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas, which are responsible for carrying digestive enzymes. As the cancer grows, it can interfere with the pancreas’s ability to produce important digestive enzymes and hormones that help regulate blood sugar. The cancer may begin to affect nearby structures and organs in the abdomen. In its resectable form, the tumor is confined to the pancreas or immediate surrounding area and can be surgically removed. Non-metastatic pancreatic cancer means the disease has not spread to distant parts of the body.