title: Is XELOX equivalent to FOLFOX or other continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer?
abstract: Continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) and oxaliplatin is a frequently used regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer. Continuous-infusion 5-FU imposes constraints on patients and institutions. Oral fluoropyrimidines that mimic continuous-infusion 5-FU are now available and can be combined with oxaliplatin. In addition, it has been shown in small randomized trials that oral fluoropyrimidines are preferred by patients. Several randomized trials have compared continuous-infusion 5-FU/oxaliplatin with the oral fluoropyrimidine capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. In all of these trials, noninferiority was demonstrated for the use of oral fluoropyrimidines on the predefined endpoints such as progression-free survival, overall survival, or response rate. In all trials, however, the hazard ratios were always in favor of the use of continuous-infusion 5-FU/LV even though noninferiority was demonstrated. This could question the need to use oral fluoropyrimidines instead of continuous-infusion 5-FU. Patient preference, quality of life, and cost of treatment could also be considered in this setting, wherein most of the patients are not in a curative situation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre R. Gauducheau, St. Herblain, France. jy-douillard@nantes.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Douillard
authors.forename: Jaafar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bennouna
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Senellart
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D010071:Oxaloacetates; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil