[Sequential therapy with methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced colorectal cancer pretreated with 5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a sequential low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) regimen in the palliative treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.


METHODS
Enrolled in the study were patients with advanced colorectal cancer, refractory to 5FU + FA. Patients were treated with MTX 40 mg/m2 i.v. bolus d 1 and 8, 5FU 700 mg/m2 i.v. bolus d 2 and 9 (24 hours after MTX bolus). The cycle was repeated every 4 weeks.


RESULTS
48 patients entered the study, and 45 are evaluable. The overall response rate was 15% with 1 complete response and 6 partial responses. Eight patients obtained disease stabilization. Median time to progression was 9 months. Toxicity was mild. Grade 3 stomatitis was observed in 7 (15%) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Sequential MTX/5FU is a well tolerated regimen with mild antitumor activity in refractory advanced colorectal patients.
Divisione di Oncologia Medica II, Istituto Regina Elena per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Roma, Italia.
G
G
Paoletti
L
L
Di Lauro
T
T
Gionfra
I
I
Venturo
F
F
Belli
E
E
Squilloni
S
S
Mariotti
G
G
Fioretti
M
M
Gemini
R
R
Tersigni
M
M
Lopez
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use* / Q000633:toxicity; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced
D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate
Terapia sequenziale con methotrexate e 5-fluorouracile in pazienti affetti da carcinoma colorettale avanzato pretrattati con 5-fluorouracile + acido folinico.