Carboplatin and etoposide in advanced colorectal carcinoma. A phase II study.
BACKGROUND
For advanced colorectal carcinoma, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-leucovorin is the best therapy available. To improve results, a variety of drugs were added, including cisplatin (CDDP), sometimes with controversial results. The combination of CDDP and etoposide (VP-16) has shown synergistic activity in other settings. Although VP-16 alone is considered rather inactive in colorectal carcinoma, the authors believed it was appropriate to evaluate the combination of VP-16 and carboplatin (CBDCA) in this disease because the newer platinum analogue CBDCA has more limited side effects than the parent compound.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated with CBDCA (200 mg/m2, days 1-3) and VP-16 (100 mg/m2, days 1-5). Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. All patients received at least two cycles (median, six cycles; range, two to eight cycles).


RESULTS
There were three complete responses and four partial responses. The median duration of response was 35 weeks (range, 25-84 weeks). The median time to tumor progression was 23 weeks (range, 9-84 weeks). The median survival time was 49 weeks (range, 9-151+ weeks). Toxic effects generally were assessed as mild, with no Grade 4 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group classification) toxic effects observed during this study.


CONCLUSIONS
Response rate and toxic effects observed during this study warrant additional studies comparing this regimen with 5-FU-based regimens in advanced colorectal carcinoma.
Jeremic
B
B
Department of Oncology, University Hospital, Kragujevac, Yugoslavia.
Acimovic
L
L
Mijatovic
L
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin