title: FOLFIRI-bevacizumab and concurrent low-dose radiotherapy in metastatic colorectal cancer: preliminary results of a phase I-II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate the effectiveness of low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) and FOLFIRI-bevacizumab (FOLFIRI-B) combination in metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary objective of the study is to raise the clinical complete response (CR) rate from 5% to 25%. Secondary objectives include toxicity and progression-free survival. Patients underwent 12 FOLFIRI-B cycles plus two daily LDRT (20 cGy/6-hour interval) on the first and second days of each cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CR and toxicity of 10 patients are reported. Considering irradiated sites, 10/10 patients had clinical partial response (PR) (7/10) or CR (3/10). Three clinical PR patients subsequently underwent surgery and reported a pathological CR in the irradiated sites. Grade 3-4 toxicities rate was 30%. With a median follow-up of 29 months (range: 12-49 months), 2/10 progression of disease in irradiated sites and 3/5 in non-irradiated sites were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The very high response rate requires urgent verification in a larger patient series.
authors.forename: Alessio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Morganti
authors.forename: Samantha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mignogna
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Caravatta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deodato
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.forename: Nunzio M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Plantamura
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Massaccesi
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Savino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cilla
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D002166:Camptothecin
keywords: Bevacizumab,; Chemo-sensitization,; Low-dose radiotherapy,; Metastatic colorectal cancer