Comparison of the efficacy of oral capecitabine versus bolus 5-FU in preoperative radiotherapy of locally advanced rectal cancer.
The effects of treatment with oral capecitabine vs. bolus 5-FU, administered concurrently with preoperative radiotherapy, were compared in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). One hundred and twenty-seven patients with LARC received concurrent preoperative chemoradiation using two cycles bolus 5-FU (500 mg/m2/day) plus leucovorin (LV, 20 mg/m2/day) (Group I). Another LARC group received concurrent chemoradiation using two cycles 1,650 mg/m2/day of oral capecitabine and 20 mg/m2/day of LV (Group II, 97 patients). Radiation was delivered to the primary tumor at 50.4 Gy in both groups. Definitive surgery was performed 6 weeks after the completion of chemoradiation. A pathologic complete remission was achieved in 11.4% of patients in Group I and in 22.2% of patients in Group II (p= 0.042). The down-staging rates of the primary tumor and lymph nodes were 39.0/ 68.7% in Group I and 61.1/87.5% in Group II (p=0.002/0.005). Sphincter-preserving surgery was possible in 42.1% of patients in Group I and 66.7% of those in Group II (p=0.021). Grade 3 or 4 leucopenia, diarrhea, and radiation dermatitis were statistically more prevalent in Group I than in Group II, while the opposite was true for grade 3 hand-foot syndrome. Preoperative chemoradiation using oral capecitabine was better tolerated than bolus 5-FU and was more effective in the promotion of both down-staging and sphincter preservation in patients with LARC.
Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Sung
JS
Kim
Jun Sang
JS
Kim
Moon June
MJ
Cho
Wan Hee
WH
Yoon
Kye Sang
KS
Song
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil