Two different first-line 5-fluorouracil regimens with or without oxaliplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and leucovorin (LV) are standard first-line treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The aim of this multicentre, open-label, phase IIIb study was to assess the addition of oxaliplatin to two different 5-FU regimens.


METHODS
Patients with previously untreated mCRC were randomised to arm A [two-weekly oxaliplatin 85 mg/m(2) + either continuous intravenous infusion (CIV) of 5-FU without LV or two-weekly bolus and CIV 5-FU + LV (LV5FU2)] or arm B (5-FU CIV or LV5FU2 alone). Irinotecan monotherapy was planned on progression.


RESULTS
A total of 725 patients were enrolled. After a fixed follow-up of 2 years for each patient, 2-year survival rates were 27.3% and 24.8% in arms A and B, respectively (hazard ratio 0.93; 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.10). The addition of oxaliplatin significantly improved response rates (54.1 versus 29.8%; P < 0.0001) and median progression-free survival (7.9 versus 5.9 months; P < 0.0001). The most common grade 3-4 toxic effects were neutropenia (arm A, 33%; arm B, 5%), diarrhoea (arm A, 14%; arm B, 8%), and fatigue (arm A, 9%; arm B, 8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite improved rates of tumour control, these results failed to demonstrate a survival benefit from the addition of oxaliplatin to infused 5-FU and lend further support to the use of sequential monotherapy in some patients with mCRC.
Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, London and Surrey, UK. david.cunningham@rmh.nhs.uk
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Cunningham
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Sirohi
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Pluzanska
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Utracka-Hutka
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Zaluski
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Glynne-Jones
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Koralewski
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Bridgewater
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Mainwaring
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Wasan
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Wang
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Szczylik
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Clingan
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Chan
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Tabah-Fisch
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Cassidy
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005221:Fatigue / Q000139:chemically induced; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin