Results of leucovorin and doxifluridine oral regimen in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
We conducted a multicentric phase II study on advanced colorectal cancer to determine the efficacy and toxicity of oral treatment with leucovorin (LV) plus doxifluridine (5'DFUR), a novel fluoropyrimidine derivative with proven antitumor activity in different experimental models. Thirty-six outpatients with measurable disease entered the trial and received orally LV 20 mg in the morning and in the afternoon, and 2 h later 5'-DFUR 500 mg/m2 every 2 days for 3 months. Thirty-four evaluable patients underwent a total of 408 weeks of treatment. The response rate was 35%, with two complete remissions and 10 partial responses. The median survival of patients who responded to treatment (responders) was 17.1 months (range 4-32), which was significantly longer (p<0.001) than the 6.5 months (range 2-11) of the patients who did not respond (non-responders). Therefore, after 4-8 weeks of treatment, 14 patients (41%) had an improvement in their performance status and/or stabilization of pain. General toxicity was usually mild, myelo and gastrointestinal toxicity were moderate, and there was no evidence of relevant neurological toxicity. These results show that a home therapy with oral LV-5'DFUR is a safe and effective treatment regimen for metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna-Day Hospital Oncologico, Università degli Studi de Firenze, Italy.
B
B
Neri
M T
MT
Gemelli
D
D
Pantalone
M L
ML
Pernice
I
I
Agostino
M
M
Scatizzi
G M
GM
Siliani
P
P
Bartolini
F
F
Andreoli
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005467:Floxuridine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005467:Floxuridine; D002955:Leucovorin; C025034:doxifluridine