title: Preoperative chemoradiation with raltitrexed ('Tomudex') for T2/N+ and T3/N+ rectal cancers: a phase I study.
abstract: The use of raltitrexed ('Tomudex') as concomitant chemotherapy during preoperative radiotherapy in chemonaïve patients with stage II/III rectal cancer has been examined in this study and its recommended dose in conjunction with radiotherapy investigated. Forty-five Gray (Gy) of radiotherapy (1.8 Gy daily, 5 days per week) was delivered to the posterior pelvis, followed by a 5.4 Gy boost. Single doses of raltitrexed (2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 mg/m(2)) were administered on days 1, 19 and 38. Only 1 of the 15 patients entered experienced a dose limiting toxicity (DLT) (grade 3 leucopenia) at the 3.0 mg/m(2) dose level. The overall response rate was 80% (five complete responses, seven partial responses). These preliminary data suggest that raltitrexed is a well tolerated and effective treatment when combined with preoperative radiotherapy in patients with stage II/III rectal cancer. The recommended dose of raltitrexed for future phase II studies will be 3.0 mg/m(2).
authors.affiliation: Radiation Therapy Department, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. vvalentini@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Doglietto
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Morganti
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turriziani
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Smaniotto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ratto
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sofo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cellini
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D011799:Quinazolines; D013876:Thiophenes; C068874:raltitrexed