title: Gemcitabine and capecitabine as third- or later-line therapy for refractory advanced colorectal cancer: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate gemcitabine plus capecitabine as third-line or later-line therapy in patients with refractory advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) who maintain a good performance status (PS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated patients who had failed at least two lines of therapy or had contraindication to standard therapy and received gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m(2), d1 biweekly) plus capecitabine (1,700 mg/m(2)/day, d1-7 every two weeks) in a compassionate use program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. The majority (85%) had ECOG PS 1. Gemcitabine plus capecitabine was administered as third- and fourth-line in 49% and 23% of patients, respectively; and as fifth-line or later-line in 28%. A clinical benefit of 21% was found. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 3.0 and 7.3 months, respectively. Toxicity was mild to moderate, with no reported grade 4 toxicities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gemcitabine plus capecitabine was safe and well-tolerated. While the efficacy of this regimen was modest in terms of response, the survival data were acceptable and consistent with previous publications on this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Ourense, 32005 Ourense, Spain. Mercedes.Salgado.Fernandez@sergas.es.
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reboredo
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mendez
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Quintero
authors.forename: María Luz
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pellón
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Ana Fernández
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Montes
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valladares-Ayerbes
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varela
authors.forename: Miguel Ángel
authors.initials: MÁ
authors.lastname: Alonso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil; D000093542:Gemcitabine
keywords: Capecitabine; colorectal cancer; gemcitabine; refractory