title: Evaluation of efficacy and safety of generic levofolinate in patients who received colorectal cancer chemotherapy.
abstract: The efficacy and safety of generic and brand name levofolinate injectable drugs were evaluated in 42 chemotherapy-naïve patients with colorectal cancer who received the combination chemotherapy of levofolinate, 5-fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin with or without bevacizumab. The tumor response rate was similar between generic drug group and brand drug group, in which the efficacy rate (complete response plus partial response) was 50% for generic drug group and 42% for brand name drug (odds ratio: 1.400, 95% confidence intervals: 0.409-4.788, P = 0.756). The rates of the decrease in plasma tumor markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 were not different between the two groups. The incidence of adverse drug reactions was not significantly different between the two groups, although the incidence rates of adverse events associated predominantly with 5-fluorouracil such as hand-and-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and oral mucositis were rather higher, though not significantly, in generic drug group than in brand drug group (16 vs. 4% for hand-and-foot syndrome; 33 vs. 25% for diarrhea; 33 vs. 25% for oral mucositis). These findings suggest that both the effectiveness and safety profiles of the generic name levofolinate are comparable to those of the brand name drug, when used in combination with 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin in patients with colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Gifu University Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iihara
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuura
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D058766:Levoleucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077150:Oxaliplatin
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000077150:Oxaliplatin; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D058766:Levoleucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil