title: Gastrointestinal adverse effects in advanced colorectal carcinoma patients treated with different schedules of FOLFOX.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the frequency and severity of gastrointestinal adverse effects in advanced colorectal carcinoma patients treated with four different schedules of FOLFOX.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (median age 61 years) who underwent surgery were included in the study. All had measureable disease at CT scan, ultrasonography or clinical examination. Toxicity was graded on a scale of 1-5 according to the general grade definition of CTC v2.0. The severity of adverse effects (Grade 3 and 4) assessed in each treatment arm was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Differences between the incidence rates of 3 and 4 toxicity and all grades of toxicity for all parameters in GI toxicity were very highly significant (p<0.001). Severe gastrointestinal symptoms of toxicity were noted with FOLFOX7 (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2). Grade 3 diarrhea was reported in 25% patients and grade 4 diarrhea in 4% in the FOLFOX7 treatment arm. Grade 2 vomiting was very frequently reported in the FOLFOX4 treatment arm (oxaliplatin 85mg/m2). Grade 2 stomatitis was reported in 42% patients treated with mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 100mg/m2). Differences in the incidence rate of nausea, diarrhea and stomatitis among all treatment arms of FOLFOX were significant (p<0.05) .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe diarrhea is associated with FOLFOX7 treatment. No grade 3 or 4 GI toxicity was reported in patients of the mFOLFOX6 arm.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacology Department, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan E-mail : nusratbano@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Nusrat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.forename: Rahila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Najam
authors.forename: Faaiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qazi
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mateen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil