title: A postauthorization survey to document the therapeutic management of oxaliplatin as a first-line chemotherapy regimen in South Africa in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: Oxaliplatin is a standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The objectives were to document the therapeutic management of oxaliplatin in South Africa, determine the incidence and severity of sensory neuropathy, and record the 2-year survival rate. Meccelox was a prospective, noncontrolled, open label, multicentre, observational survey of adult patients with stage IV metastatic colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapeutic regimens. The study was conducted from August 2007 to November 2011 in 29 sites in South Africa by 66 participating treating physicians. Among the 195 enrolled patients, 61% were treated with FOLFOX regimen (5-fluorouracil/folinic acid plus oxaliplatin) for an average of 12 cycles and 32% patients were treated with XELOX (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) for an average of 6-8 cycles, with the main reason for discontinuation being completion of the preplanned prescribed regimen. In Meccelox survey, 80% of patients were treated with intent of palliation. Overall 64% of patients reported symptoms of sensory neuropathy. The 2-year survival rate was 30%. Conclusions. Patients received a specified preplanned number of chemotherapy cycles rather than being treated until disease progression or toxicity. Both the incidence of neuropathy and the 2-year survival rate were less than previous reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Pretoria, Prinshof Campus, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Dr. Savage Road, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lydia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dreosti
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Sanofi South Africa, Midrand 1682, South Africa.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McMaster
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Sanofi South Africa, Midrand 1682, South Africa.
authors.forename: Rashem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mothilal