title: Cantharidin combined with chemotherapy for Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This systematic analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cantharidin combined with chemotherapy in treating Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of cantharidin combined with chemotherapy on response and safety for Chinese patients with colorectal cancer were identified using a predefined search strategy. Pooled response rate (RR) of treatment were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When cantharidin combined with chemotherapy, 4 clinical studies which included 155 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were considered eligible for inclusion. The systematic analysis suggested that, in all patients, pooled RR was 46.5% (72/155) in cantharidin combined regimens. Major adverse effects were neutropenia, leukopenia, fatigue, and anemia with cantharidin combined treatment; no treatment related deaths occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This systematic analysis suggests that cantharidin combined regimens are associated with high response rate and accepted toxicity in treating Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer suggesting that randomized clinical trials are now warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huadong Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China E-mail : uniquemedicated@sohu.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Yi-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yong-Fu
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002193:Cantharidin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D007509:Irritants; D002193:Cantharidin