Chemotherapy with mitomycin C and capecitabine in patients with advanced colorectal cancer pretreated with irinotecan and oxaliplatin.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the activity and tolerability of the combination of mitomycin C and capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan and oxaliplatin-containing regimens.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients with pretreated advanced colorectal cancer who had been treated with mitomycin C, 6 mg/m2 on day 1, and capecitabine, 1900 mg/m2 on days 1-14, every 3 weeks. Tumor assessment was performed every 3 cycles, toxicity assessed at each cycle.


RESULTS
Main patient characteristics were median age, 61 years (range, 35-73); male/female ratio, 16/12; single metastatic site involvement, 5/28 (18%); > or =3 metastatic sites, 10/28 (36%). Ninety-six courses of therapy were given (median number, 3; range, 1-9). Twenty-six patients were assessable for response, and all were assessable for toxicity. There was 1 partial response (4%) and 12 had stable disease (43%). Median time to progression was 2 months (range, 1-9) and median overall survival was 6 months (range, 1-29+), with a 1-year overall survival rate of 25%. The regimen was very well tolerated without significant hematological toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results are disappointing. Despite the good safety profile, they do not support further investigation or the routine use of this regimen in this setting.
Rimassa
Lorenza
L
Medical Oncology and Haematology Department, Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, MI, Italy. lorenza.rimassa@humanitas.it
Gullo
Giuseppe
G
Carnaghi
Carlo
C
Abbadessa
Giovanni
G
Zuradelli
Monica
M
Tronconi
Maria Chiara
MC
Pressiani
Tiziana
T
Santoro
Armando
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D016685:Mitomycin; D000069287:Capecitabine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin