Capecitabine as first-line treatment for patients older than 70 years with metastatic colorectal cancer: an oncopaz cooperative group study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the tolerability of capecitabine in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
Fifty-one patients with advanced CRC who were >/= 70 years and considered ineligible for combination chemotherapy received oral capecitabine 1,250 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks. Patients with a creatinine clearance of 30 to 50 mL/min received a dose of 950 mg/m(2) twice daily.


RESULTS
A total of 248 cycles of capecitabine were administered (median, five cycles; range, one to eight cycles). The overall response rate was 24% (95% CI, 15% to 41%), including two complete responses (CR; 4%) and 10 partial responses (PR; 20%). Disease control (CR + PR + stable disease) was achieved in 67% of patients. The median times to disease progression and overall survival were 7 months (95% CI, 6.4 to 9.5 months) and 11 months (95% CI, 8.6 to 13.3 months), respectively. Of the 35 patients evaluated for clinical benefit response, 14 (40%; 95% CI, 24% to 58%) showed clinical benefit. Capecitabine was well tolerated. Treatment-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events were observed in only six patients (12%), and the most common events were diarrhea, hand-foot syndrome, and thrombocytopenia. One patient (2%) had an episode of angina, but no treatment-related deaths were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that capecitabine is effective and well tolerated in elderly patients with advanced CRC who are considered ineligible for combination chemotherapy.
Feliu
Jaime
J
Medical Oncology Service, La Paz Hospital, P de la Castellana, 261-28046, Madrid, Spain. jfeliu.hulp@salud.madrid.org
Escudero
Pilar
P
Llosa
Ferrán
F
Bolaños
Matilde
M
Vicent
Jose-Manuel
JM
Yubero
Alfonso
A
Sanz-Lacalle
Jose-Javier
JJ
Lopez
Rafael
R
Lopez-Gómez
Luis
L
Casado
Enrique
E
Gómez-Reina
María-José
MJ
González-Baron
Manuel
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil