Oxaliplatin fractionated over two days with bimonthly leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in metastatic colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin (L-OHP) fractionated over two days with bimonthly 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCC) patients.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with inoperable MCC (median age, 60 years) were entered into the study. Outpatient treatment consisted of L-OHP 50 mg/m2 and LV 200 mg/m2 administered in a 2-hour i.v. infusion, followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus and 5-FU 600 mg/m2 in a 22-hour continuous infusion, on days 1 and 2 every 2 weeks.


RESULTS
A total of 488 courses of chemotherapy were administered. Responses were as follows: 3 complete responses (5.6%) and 24 partial responses (44.4%) giving an overall response rate of 50% (95% CI: 36% to 64%). Median time to progression and overall survival were 10.3 and 19.2 months, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropoenia, leucopoenia, thrombocythopoenia and anaemia occurred in 33%, 9%, 2% and 2% of patients, respectively, while peripheral neuropathy occurred in 10% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The fractionated bimonthly schedule of L-OHP plus de Gramont gave a less than anticipated neurological toxicity profile, while maintaining expected efficacy.
Recchia
Francesco
F
Unità operative di Oncologia, Ospedale Civile di Avezzano, Italy. frecchia1946@libero.it
Rea
Silvio
S
Nuzzo
Antonio
A
Lalli
Angelo
A
Di Lullo
Liberato
L
De Filippis
Sandro
S
Saggio
Gaetano
G
Biondi
Edoardo
E
Massa
Elena
E
Mantovani
Giovanni
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil