Evaluation of adjuvant chemotherapy irinotecan + 5-fluorouracil + leucovorine in advanced colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
to analyze clinical effectivity of chemotherapy based on Irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracyl and Folinic acid in patients with colorectal carcinoma.


METHODS
prospective, randomized, open-label trial in group of 204 patients with advanced colorectal cancer randomized to either chemotherapy with irinotecan+5-FU+leucovorin or supportive care alone (control group) between January 1999--January 2005 was performed. Efficacy and safety of treatment was analysed.


RESULTS
Administration of the irinotecan, 5FU, LV regimen to patients with stages II and III significantly improved 5-year survival (81% versus 66% and 66% versus 38%, respectively; p < 0.05). Palliative chemotherapy improved survivals also in stage IV, four patients survived 5 years. Adverse event occurred in 44 of 102 patients (43.1%).


CONCLUSIONS
study confirms benefits of irinotecan chemotherapy administered to patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Preliminary data suggests that this chemotherapy regimen should be considered for first-line therapy in the adjuvant and palliative treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.
1st Department of General and GI Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków Poland. mskulig@cyf-kr-edu.pl
J
J
Kulig
T
T
Popiela
P
P
Richter
S
S
Klek
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin