Update on European adjuvant trials with irinotecan for colorectal cancer.
Recent combinations of chemotherapy have significantly improved the response rate and survival time for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. This improvement has been initially demonstrated with the combination of fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin and irinotecan (CPT-11, Camptosar), which now is considered and recommended as first-line treatment. The combination of improved efficacy with survival benefit should translate into a better cure rate in patients with resected, locally advanced, nonmetastatic colorectal cancer for whom adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU/leucovorin is of proven benefit. Several randomized phase III trials are ongoing in Europe or would begin shortly to assess the potential benefit of a 5-FU/leucovorin-irinotecan combination in the adjuvant setting for patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer. This article will review the inclusion criteria and goal of these European trials. An update on accrual and on tolerance will also be provided.
Douillard
Jean-Yves
JY
Centre Rene Gauducheau, CRLCC Nantes-Atlantique, St Herblain-Nantes, France. jy-douillard@nantes.fnclcc.fr
Barbarot
Veronique
V
Bennouna
Jaafar
J
D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin