Are capecitabine and oxaliplatin (XELOX) suitable treatments for progressing low-grade and high-grade neuroendocrine tumours?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOX) in neuroendocrine tumours' (NETs) treatment.


METHODS
Forty patients (pts) with advanced NETs were treated. Of these, 13 had untreated poorly differentiated NETs, 27 had well-differentiated NETs in progression after somatostatin analogues. Patients received oxaliplatin e.v. 130 mg/mq i.v. and capecitabine 2,000 mg/mq/die. The primary sites of the disease were: lung (10 pts), pancreas (15 pts), small bowel (8 pts), unknown (1 pt), others (6 pts).


RESULTS
In 13 pts with poorly differentiated NETs objective responses (OR) were: 3 PR (23%), 1 SD (7%), 9 PD (70%). Biochemical responses were 11%. In 27 patients with well-differentiated NETs the OR were: 8 PR (30%), 13 SD (48%) and 6 PD (22%). Biochemical and symptomatic responses were 20 and 50%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The XELOX regimen is effective and tolerated in well-differentiated NETs after progression following somatostatin analogues.
Bajetta
Emilio
E
S.C. Oncologia Medica 2, Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Via G. Venezian, 1, Milan 20133, Italy. emilio.bajetta@istitutotumori.mi.it
Catena
Laura
L
Procopio
Giuseppe
G
De Dosso
Sara
S
Bichisao
Ettore
E
Ferrari
Leonardo
L
Martinetti
Antonia
A
Platania
Marco
M
Verzoni
Elena
E
Formisano
Barbara
B
Bajetta
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D000069287:Capecitabine; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000097:blood; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D016019:Survival Analysis
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D053379:Chromogranin A; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil