XELOX (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) as first-line treatment for elderly patients over 70 years of age with advanced colorectal cancer.
The purpose of this phase II trial was to determine the efficacy and safety of the XELOX (capecitabine/oxaliplatin) regimen as first-line therapy in the elderly patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). A total of 50 patients with MCRC aged > or = 70 years received oxaliplatin 130 mg m(-2) on day 1 followed by oral capecitabine 1000 mg m(-2) twice daily on days 1-14 every 3 weeks. Patients with creatinine clearance 30-50 ml min(-1) received a reduced dose of capecitabine (750 mg m(-2) twice daily). By intent-to-treat analysis, the overall response rate was 36% (95% CI, 28-49%), with three (6%) complete and 15 (30%) partial responses. In total, 18 patients (36%) had stable disease and 14 (28%) progressed. The median times to disease progression and overall survival were 5.8 months (95% CI, 3.9-7.8 months) and 13.2 months (95% CI, 7.6-16.9 months), respectively. Capecitabine was well tolerated: grade 3/4 adverse events were observed in 14 (28%) patients: 11 (22%) diarrhoea, eight (16%) asthenia, seven (14%) nausea/vomiting, three (6%) neutropenia, three (6%) thrombocytopenia, and two (4%) hand-foot syndrome. There was one treatment-related death from diarrhoea and sepsis. In conclusion, XELOX is well tolerated in elderly patients, with respectable efficacy and a meaningful clinical benefit response. Given its ease of administration compared with combinations of oxaliplatin with 5-FU/LV, it represents a good therapeutic option in the elderly.
Service of Medical Oncology, H La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Paseo de la Castellana 261, Madrid 28046, Spain. jfeliu.hulp@salud.madrid.org
J
J
Feliu
A
A
Salud
P
P
Escudero
L
L
Lopez-Gómez
M
M
Bolaños
A
A
Galán
J-M
JM
Vicent
A
A
Yubero
F
F
Losa
J
J
De Castro
M A
MA
de Mon
E
E
Casado
M
M
González-Barón
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003404:Creatinine; D005472:Fluorouracil