A phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil and 1-leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

C. Erlichman, S. Fine, I. Kerr, W. Hoffmann, C. Gorg, H. J. Schmoll, P. Preusser, B. Thuerlimann, B. Gustavsson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We undertook a multicenter phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) + 1- leucovorin (1-LV) in previously untreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to determine the response rate, response duration, time to progression, survival, and toxicity. Patients were treated with i.v. 5FU 370 mg/m2/day and 1-LV 100 mg/m2/day x 5 every 28 days. Toxicity and response were determined by WHO criteria. One hundred and twenty-six patients were entered, and 119 patients were eligible and evaluable. Eighty-eight patients had colon cancer and 37 had rectal cancer. The male:female ratio was 58:68. The mean age was 62.2 years. ECOGs performance status distribution was 0 (39.7%), 1 (46%), and 2 (11.9%). The median number of courses of therapy administered was 4.5. Severe- or life-threatening stomalitis or diarrhea, nausea, and granulocytopenia occurred in 17.6, 23.2, 17.6, and 15.9% of patients, respectively. The response rate was 22/119 [18.5%, 95% confidence interval (CI) of 12.0-26.6]. Median response duration was 188 days (95% CI of 111-248 days). Median survival was 379 days (95% confidence interval of 289- 452 days). These results indicate that when 1-LV is combined with 5FU. toxicity is similar in pattern and severity to that of the d1 recemic mixture. The overall efficacy of 1-LV + 5FU is comparable to a recent metaanalysis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)26-31
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Oncology: Cancer Clinical Trials
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1996

Keywords

  • 5FU
  • Colorectal metastasis Phase II
  • Leucovorin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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