title: Gemcitabine and protracted 5-fluorouracil infusion as third-line chemotherapy in refractory colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is no standard treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) progressing after irinotecan and oxaliplatin treatment and having good performance status (PS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 days 1, 8 and 15 q28d combined with protracted 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion at 200 mg/m2/day, in 37 consecutive patients progressing after oxaliplatin-irinotecan-containing chemotherapies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Partial response (PR) was achieved in 4 (10.8%) and disease stabilization (SD) in 19 (51.4%) cases (PR+SD: 62.2%). Median time to progression and survival were 4.2 and 8.9 months, respectively. Grade III toxicities were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia (in 3 patients) and mucositis (in 2 patients). Clinical benefit was observed in 18 patients (48.6% of the entire population; 64.3% of those patients with PS>0 at study entry).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gemcitabine and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion was found to be an active and manageable palliative regimen for heavily pre-treated patients with metastatic CRC.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Luigi, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bitossi
authors.forename: Carla Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Sculli
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampellini
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Alabiso
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brizzi
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrero
authors.forename: Azzurra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ottone
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bellini
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorzegno
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine