European experience with irinotecan plus fluorouracil/folinic acid or mitomycin.
Tremendous progress has been made in the medical treatment of advanced colorectal cancer during the past 2 to 3 years, due to the availability of several new drugs. Of these new agents, irinotecan (CPT-11 [Camptosar]) seems to be one of the most active against advanced colorectal cancer. It is, therefore, a good candidate for combination with the more classic cytotoxic agents for this disease. This article summarizes several European phase I and II studies in which irinotecan has been combined with (1) fluorouracil (5-FU) alone, given as a repeated bolus injection or a protracted infusion; (2) 5-FU modulated by folinic acid (leucovorin) according to different schedules; or (3) mitomycin (Mutamycin). All of these studies have demonstrated clinical responses in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma, including complete responses. The toxicity profiles of the various combinations seem to be acceptable; neutropenia and delayed diarrhea are the most frequent side effects. Large phase III studies are still warranted to demonstrate the benefit of these irinotecan-based regimens.
Khayat
D
D
Pierre and Marie University, Paris, France.
Gil-Delgado
M
M
Antoine
E C
EC
Coeffic
D
D
Benhammouda
A
A
Grapin
J P
JP
Bastian
G
G
D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005060:Europe; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000931:Antidotes; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D008937:Mitomycins; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin