title: Leucovorin and fluorouracil with or without oxaliplatin as first-line treatment in advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a previous study of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, the LV5FU2 regimen, comprising leucovorin (LV) plus bolus and infusional fluorouracil (5FU) every 2 weeks, was superior to the standard North Central Cancer Treatment Group/Mayo Clinic 5-day bolus 5FU/LV regimen. This phase III study investigated the effect of combining oxaliplatin with LV5FU2, with progression-free survival as the primary end point.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four hundred twenty previously untreated patients with measurable disease were randomized to receive a 2-hour infusion of LV (200 mg/m(2)/d) followed by a 5FU bolus (400 mg/m(2)/d) and 22-hour infusion (600 mg/m(2)/d) for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks, either alone or together with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) as a 2-hour infusion on day 1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients allocated to oxaliplatin plus LV5FU2 had significantly longer progression-free survival (median, 9.0 v 6.2 months; P =.0003) and better response rate (50.7% v 22.3%; P =.0001) when compared with the control arm. The improvement in overall survival did not reach significance (median, 16.2 v 14.7 months; P =. 12). LV5FU2 plus oxaliplatin gave higher frequencies of National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria grade 3/4 neutropenia (41. 7% v 5.3% of patients), grade 3/4 diarrhea (11.9% v 5.3%), and grade 3 neurosensory toxicity (18.2% v 0%), but this did not result in impairment of quality of life (QoL). Survival without disease progression or deterioration in global health status was longer in patients allocated to oxaliplatin treatment (P =.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The LV5FU2-oxaliplatin combination seems beneficial as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer, demonstrating a prolonged progression-free survival with acceptable tolerability and maintenance of QoL.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Interne-Oncologie, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France. aimery.de-gramont@sat.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Gramont
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seymour
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Homerin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hmissi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cortes-Funes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papamichael
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Le Bail
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Louvet
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hendler
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Braud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morvan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonetti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil