title: Irinotecan, continuous 5-fluorouracil, and low dose of leucovorin (modified FOLFIRI) as first line of therapy in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Irinotecan, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and a high dose of leucovorin (LV), known as FOLFIRI regimen, has shown activity in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of irinotecan, 5-FU and a low dose of LV (modified FOLFIRI) as a first line of therapy for patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2002 and October 2004, 44 patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled. The chemotherapy regimen schedule consisted of 180 mg/m2 of irinotecan being administered intravenously (i.v) on Day 1, 400 mg/m2 of 5-FU via i.v bolus with 600 mg/m2 of continuous infusion for 22 hrs on both Day 1 and 2, and 20 mg/m2 of leucovorin on both Day 1 and 2 , repeated every two weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 47.8%. Of the 40 evaluated patients, one had CR (2.3%) and 20 had PR (46.5%). Toxicities were mild and easily manageable. Three patients experienced 23 episodes of Grade 3/4 leukopenia., Only one patient developed Grade 3/4 diarrhea. None experienced Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Modified FOLFIRI with a low dose of LV is an effective and tolerable regimen for patients with recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Ah
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Byoung-Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: In-Sook
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Jin-Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young Seon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Kyung Shik
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Gyu
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Suk Kyun
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seong Taek
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Doo Suk
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin