title: Combination chemotherapy containing semustine (MeCCNU) in patients with advanced colorectal cancer previously treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu).
abstract: Two hundred thirty-two patients with advanced measurable colorectal cancer previously treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) were randomized to one of the following treatments: A) semustine (MeCCNU) plus vincristine (VCR); B) MeCCNU plus dacarbazine (DTIC); C) MeCCNU plus DTIC plus VCR; D) MeCCNU plus beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine (beta-TGdR). Platelet nadirs less than 50,000/mm3 were noted in 9% (Treatment A) to 19% (D) of the patients while WBC nadirs less than 2,000/mm3 were noted in 7% (B) to 12% (C,D) of the patients. Severe vomiting was noted in 2% (D) to 14% (B) of the patients. The partial response rates and median survival times from date of randomization were as follows: Treatment A: 3/54 (6%), 19 weeks; B: 9/59 (16%), 28 weeks; C: 3/60 (5%), 25 weeks; D: 2/59 (4%), 19 weeks. Differences in response rate and median survival are not statistically significant.
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D012673:Semustine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D012673:Semustine; D005472:Fluorouracil