title: A phase II study of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX): a new first-line option in metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capecitabine and oxaliplatin are both effective and well-tolerated monotherapies for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). Oxaliplatin has also been shown to be very effective when combined with 5-FU/LV in the first-line setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Assess the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) in patients with previously untreated advanced CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-three patients with measurable disease received capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily on d 1-14 and oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on d 1, every 3 wk. Of these, 52 were evaluable for safety and 49 for antitumor response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a low rate of grade 1/2 adverse events; grade 3/4 events included leukopenia (10%), neutropenia (6%), thrombocytopenia (2%), nausea/vomiting (4%), and diarrhea (4%). The overall response rate was 39% (95% CI, 25-54%) and median time to disease progression was 7.8 mo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  XELOX is an active and well-tolerated first-line treatment for advanced CRC. Randomized phase III studies are ongoing to compare XELOX with FOLFOX in view of the comparable efficacy and safety but superior convenience of XELOX therapy.
authors.affiliation: Hellenic Cooperative Oncology Group (HECOG), Data Office, Athens, Greece. maktom@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makatsoris
authors.forename: Haralabos P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Kalofonos
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papadimitriou
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.forename: Sotirios K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiros
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Petsas
authors.forename: Theofanis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
authors.forename: Athanassios K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sakadamis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome