KOS AND NAFPLIO ARE HERE

Am J Ther. 2009 Apr 4. [Epub ahead of print]

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Efficacy and Safety of Capecitabine and Oxaliplatin Combination as Second-Line Treatment in Advanced Colorectal Cancer.

Heras P, Kritikos K, Hatzopoulos A, Xourafas V, Kritikos N, Karagiannis S, Mitsibounas D.

1Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Cos, Cos, Greece; 2Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Nafplio, Nafplio, Greece; and 3Hellenic Medical Society for the Study of Psychosomatic Problems, Athens, Greece.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of administering a combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, resistant to leucovorin/5-fluorouracil and irinotecan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-four patients with advanced colorectal cancer were prospectively evaluated (mean age 63 years, male/female 2:1) who had been previously treated with schemes containing fluoropyrimidines and irinotecan. All patients received oxaliplatin (130 mg/m as 2-hour intravenous infusion) the first day of the cycle and capecitabine (1000 mg/m) twice daily, days 1-14. Cycles were repeated every 21 days until either disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients were evaluated regarding their response to treatment every 9 weeks (toxicity was evaluated every 3 weeks). RESULTS: Total response rate was 28.3%. Median total survival was 13.5 months, and median time to progression was 5.3 months in a follow up of 24 months. Major adverse events were neutropenia, nausea, diarrhea, hand/foot syndrome, and neurotoxicity. No treatment-related or grade 4 toxicity-related deaths were observed. Additionally, no dosage decrease was required, and only 4 cycles were withheld for 1 week because of neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of oxaliplatin and capecitabine is efficient and safe for patients with advanced colorectal cancer who have been previously treated with other therapeutic schemes. Furthermore, this is a convenient and well-tolerated scheme.