title: Epirubicin, cisplatin and continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil (ECF regimen) in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: Thirty-one patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with a regimen of epirubicin, cisplatin and continuous-infusion (c.i.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (ECF regimen). Twenty-seven patients were evaluable for response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In this study, the ECF chemotherapy yielded a 51% RR with a PFS of more than 8 months, an OS of more than 11 months and tolerable toxicity. In spite of the perplexity concerning the use of anthracyclines in colorectal cancer, the ECF regimen seems to be a possible treatment even for this malignancy. Controlled studies with ECF versus standard treatments and versus 5-FU alone in c.i. are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Clinical Medicine Department, University La Sapienza, I-00197 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gargano
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Menichetti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seminara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caporale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Konstantatoy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masciangelo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Franchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil