Address of Corresponding Author

Oncology 2005;69:283-289 (DOI: 10.1159/000089677)

  Key Words

• Advanced colorectal cancer
• Alternating regimen
• Triple combination chemotherapy
• Phase II trial

  Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility and activity of a combination schedule with irinotecan (CPT-11), oxaliplatin (L-OHP), brief infusional fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid (FA) as first-line treatment in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCC) patients. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients were treated with CPT-11 125 mg/m² as a 90-min intravenous infusion, followed by FA 20 mg/m² as an intravenous bolus, and 5-FU 500 mg/m² over a 2-hour intravenous infusion on days 1 and 8. L-OHP was administered at 85 mg/m² over 2 h on day 15, in combination with a FA 60 mg/m² intravenous bolus and 5-FU 600 mg/m² as a 2-hour intravenous infusion on days 15-16. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks for a maximum of 9 cycles. Results: Twenty-five of 50 assessable patients achieved a complete (n = 5) or partial (n = 20) response, leading to a response rate of 50% (95% CI 35-64%). Eighteen (36%) patients showed stable disease. The median time to tumor progression was 10.3 months (95% CI 9.6-10.9 months). After a median follow-up of 16.4 months, the median survival was not reached. Grade 3 neutropenia (8%), grade 3 nausea/vomiting (6%) and grade 3 diarrhea (2%) were the major adverse events. Conclusion: This alternating three-drug regimen is very well tolerated, manageable and effective in terms of activity and time to progression.

Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Francesca Valcamonico
U.O. Oncologia Medica, Spedali Civili di Brescia
P.le Spedali Civili 1
IT-25123 Brescia (Italy)
Tel. +39 030 3995260, Fax +39 030 3700017, E-Mail franzval@yahoo.it

  Article Information

Received: March 9, 2005
Accepted after revision: May 28, 2005
Published online: November 9, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 34