A phase II study of chloroquinoxaline sulfonamide (CQS) in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma (MCRC)

Purpose: Phase II multicenter study investigated the efficacy and toxicity of the novel halogenated derivative of sulfaquixonaline Chloroquinoxaline Sulfonamide (CQS) in metastatic colorectal cancer. Experimental design: Eligible patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer received CQS at a dose schedule of 2000 mg/m ² over an hour weekly for 4 weeks every 42 days. Treatment was continued until unexpected toxicity or disease progression. Results: A total of seventeen patients were enrolled on this study. 94% of all patients enrolled had prior treatment. Sixteen patients were evaluable for response with fifteen patients showing evidence of disease progression and one patient with prolonged stable disease. One patient had non-evaluable disease. Following this interim analysis, the drug was considered ineffective and the study was terminated early. The most frequent adverse event was anemia. No patients discontinued the treatment because of toxicity. Conclusion: CQS, when given at a dose of 2000 mg/m ² weekly for 4 weeks every 42 days to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, does not result in significant tumor regression.