Gemcitabine and protracted 5-fluorouracil infusion as third-line chemotherapy in refractory colorectal cancer patients.
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.
Bitossi
Raffaella
R
Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria San Luigi, 10043 Orbassano, Torino, Italy.
Sculli
Carla Maria
CM
Tampellini
Marco
M
Alabiso
Irene
I
Brizzi
Maria Pia
MP
Ferrero
Anna
A
Ottone
Azzurra
A
Bellini
Elisa
E
Gorzegno
Gabriella
G
Berruti
Alfredo
A
Dogliotti
Luigi
L
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
D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077146:Irinotecan; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin; D000093542:Gemcitabine