A United Kingdom coordinating committee on cancer research study of adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer: preliminary results.
Standard adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer consists of 5-fluorouracil with leucovorin or levamisole. The large, multicenter, randomized, double-blind QUASAR (Quick and Simple and Reliable) trial investigated whether treatment with a higher dose of leucovorin or the addition of levamisole to 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin improved survival. In the QUASAR study, 4,927 patients with colorectal cancer with no evidence of residual disease following resection, were randomized to receive fluorouracil (370 mg/m2) with high-dose (175 mg) or low-dose (25 mg) leucovorin and either levamisole (50 mg) or placebo. The fluorouracil and leucovorin regimen was given either monthly (as six 5-day courses with 4 weeks between the start of each course) or weekly (as 30 once-weekly doses). Levamisole or placebo was given three times daily for 3 days, repeated every 2 weeks for 12 courses. The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Survival was similar with both high- and low-dose leucovorin (70.1% v 71.0% at 3 years; P = .43) as well as recurrence rates (36.0% v 35.8%; P = .94), and with levamisole compared with placebo (69.4% v 71.5%; P = .06) as well as recurrence rates (37.0% v 34.9%; P = .16). Monthly and weekly treatments were equally effective (although this was a nonrandomized comparison), while weekly treatment was associated with significantly fewer toxic effects (neutropenia, mucositis, and diarrhea). High-dose leucovorin was not associated with a survival or recurrence benefit when compared with low-dose leucovorin. The ongoing QUASAR-1 trial aims to establish whether adjuvant chemotherapy has any worthwhile survival benefit in colorectal cancer patients with an uncertain indication following surgical resection.
Kerr
D J
DJ
University of Birmingham, CRC Institute for Cancer Studies, Edgbaston, UK.
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D007978:Levamisole; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil