Phase II study of oxaliplatin plus leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer patients

The aim of this phase II study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients heavily pretreated with anthracyclines, taxanes, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, and capecitabine. Sixty-two women who had received at least 3 above-mentioned drug classes were treated with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² as a 2-h infusion on day 1, LV 200 mg/m² as a 2-h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU 400 mg/m² on day 1, and a continuous infusion of 5-FU 1,200 mg/m² for 44 h. The median patient age was 52 years with a median of two involved organs, and the metastases were mostly in the lung (53.2%), lymph nodes (51.6%), and liver (45.2%). Patients had a median of three prior chemotherapy regimens. Forty-five patients (72.6%) had prior exposure to all 5 classes of drugs. Based on an intention-to-treat analysis, 60 patients were assessable for responses and 11 patients achieved a partial response (PR), giving an overall response rate (ORR) of 18.3%. Twenty-one (35%) patients had stable disease (SD), and of these, 8 achieved long SD (13.3%). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 10 months. Toxicity was mild to moderate with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and neuropathy occurring in 14 (22.6%), 9 (14.5%), and 3 (4.8%) patients, respectively. The study demonstrated that the combination of oxaliplatin plus 5-FU/LV was a well-tolerated salvage regimen with moderate activity in patients with heavily pretreated MBC.     

Phase II study of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in previously platinum-treated patients with advanced gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Oxaliplatin shows preclinical activity in many cancer cell lines that are resistant to cisplatin, and also has synergism with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). We undertook this study to evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of a combined oxaliplatin, 5-FU and leucovorin (LV) continuous infusion regimen in patients with advanced gastric cancer who progressed during or after treatment with 5-FU and platinum compounds. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six patients with advanced gastric cancer, whose disease progressed while receiving, or after discontinuing, chemotherapy with a 5-FU and platinum regimen, were enrolled in this study. Treatment comprised oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2 on day 1) as a 2-h infusion followed by bolus 5-FU (400 mg/m2 on day 1), and 48-h infusion of 5-FU 2.4-3.0 g/m2 concurrently with LV 150 mg/m2. Cycles were repeated at 2-week intervals. RESULTS: Of the 23 evaluable patients, there were six partial responses (response rate 26%). All responding patients were among those who entered into this trial immediately after failure of previous chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin. The median time to progression was 4.3 months and the median overall survival was 7.3 months. The most common hematologic toxicity was grade 1-2 anemia in 39 cycles (39%). No grade 4 leukopenia or thrombocytopenia were observed. The most common non-hematologic toxicity was nausea/vomiting (33%). Peripheral neuropathy of grade 1 or 2 was noted (27%), but there was no grade 3 or 4 neurotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: This phase II study of oxaliplatin, 5-FU and LV continuous infusion showed activity in previously platinum-treated patients with advanced gastric cancer, with acceptable toxicities.     

Biweekly oxaliplatin plus 1-day infusional fluorouracil/leucovorin followed by metronomic chemotherapy with tegafur/uracil in pretreated metastatic colorectal cancer

Purpose Metronomic chemotherapy, at a minimally toxic dose and with a frequent schedule, is a potentially novel approach to the control of advanced cancer disease via a different mechanism from maximum tolerable doses chemotherapy. Taking advantage of the potential effectiveness of metronomic therapy, tegafur/uracil (UFT) was incorporated into an oxaliplation/infusioanl fluouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) protocol in this study. The primary endpoints were response rate, time to progression (TTP) and safety profile in 5-FU-pretreated metastatic colorectal cancers (CRCs). Patients and methods Twenty-eight patients with metastatic CRCs resistant or refractory to 5-FU/LV were enrolled. Chemotherapy was administrated every 2 weeks sequentially with 2-h infusion of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m²) and LV (200 mg/m²), intravenous bolus 5-FU (400 mg/m²), 22-h infusion of 5-FU (600 mg/m²) on day 1 and then followed by 10-day daily oral UFT (200 mg/m²)/LV (30 mg/m²). Results Partial response was seen in ten (35.7%) patients. The median TTP was 5.2 (95% CI: 4.16–6.31) months and the median overall survival was 13.4 (95% CI: 6.39–20.5) months. No grade 3 toxicities above 5% according to National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC) occurred except sensory neuropathy (10.7%). No grade 4 toxicity, treatment-related mortality or hand–foot syndrome was found. Conclusions This study protocol with favorable toxicity profile is thus promisingly effective against 5-FU-pretreated metastatic CRCs. Given the present experience, an evaluation of the regimen as front-line treatment of metastatic CRC is planned.     

Phase II Study of Irinotecan plus Leucovorin and Bolus 5-Fluorouracil as First- or Second-Line Chemotherapy in Patients with Advanced Gastric or Esophageal-Gastric Junction Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and safety of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) / leucovorin (LV) and irinotecan as first- or second-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma. Treatment consisted of irinotecan 80 mg/m² intravenously (i.v.), followed by LV 200 mg/m² (i.v.) and 5-FU 450 mg/m² as an i.v. bolus, administered weekly for 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week rest period. Thirty-one patients (23 chemo-naïve, 8 chemo-exposed) were enrolled. The overall response rate was 22.6% and the disease control rate was 38.7%. Among the patients who received the regimen as first-line treatment, objective response rate was 30.4% and the disease control rate was 52.1%. However, progression of the disease was recorded in all the patients receiving the combination as second-line chemotherapy. The median time to disease progression (TTP) was 4 months and the median duration of survival was 7 months. The median TTP was 6 months for patients treated with first-line chemotherapy and 2.5 for those who received study treatment as second line. Furthermore, the median survival duration was 8 months and 6 months, respectively. The most frequent grade 3 toxicity was febrile neutropenia. Grade 3 non-hematological toxicities were rare. There were no treatmentrelated deaths.

The combination of 5-FU/LV and irinotecan as first-line treatment was found to be well tolerated and effective in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Further investigation would be worthwhile, particularly in elderly or debilitated patients who cannot tolerate aggressive chemotherapy.     

Oxaliplatin added to the simplified bimonthly leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil regimen as second-line therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (FOLFOX6). GERCOR

For patients resistant to leucovorin (LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the addition of oxaliplatin (85 or 100 mg/m2) to bimonthly LV-5-FU has given a response rate of 20-46%. The highest response rate has been observed with oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2 (FOLFOX2). The present phase II study (FOLFOX6) infused oxaliplatin (100 mg/m2) with LV (400 mg/m2) as a 2-h infusion on day 1, followed by bolus 400 mg/m2 and a 46-h infusion (2.4-3 g/m2) of 5-FU, every 2 weeks. Among the 60 patients treated, 16 (27%) had partial responses (95% confidence interval: 15-38), 27 (45%) had stable disease, 15 (25%) experienced disease progression and 2 (3%) had non-measurable disease. From the start of FOLFOX6, median progression-free survival was 5.3 months and median survival 10.8 months. From the 448 cycles analysed, NCI-CTC grade 3-4 toxicities per patient were: peripheral neuropathy 16%, nausea 7%, diarrhoea 7%, mucositis 5%, neutropenia 24%, thrombocytopenia 2%. Overall 26 (46%) patients experienced grade 3-4 toxicities. Because of toxicity, only 36% of the patients received > or = 90% of the scheduled oxaliplatin dose intensity. FOLFOX6 was active in pretreated patients resistant to LV-5-FU and is being investigated as first-line therapy. We are now investigating FOLFOX7, a regimen with a higher oxaliplatin dose intensity and a lower 5-FU dose.     

Weekly Taxotere and cisplatin with continuous-infusion 5-fluoruracil for the treatment of advanced gastric and esophageal cancer: a prospective, observational, single-institution experience

Abstract  

The combination of Taxotere (docetaxel), cisplatin, and prolonged-infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has emerged as an active treatment for advanced gastric cancer. However, the regimen proposed by van Cutsem et al. (J Clin Oncol 24:4991–7, 2006) is associated with significant toxicity and therefore alternative schedules are needed. In the present study, patients with advanced gastric or esophageal cancer received Taxotere 35 mg/m² and cisplatin 25 mg/m² on day 1, followed by 5-FU 180 mg/m²/day as a 7-day prolonged infusion. Drugs were given weekly for 3 consecutive weeks followed by 1 week’s rest. Cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. Overall, a total of 110 cycles were administered to 27 patients (median age 63 years, range 40–78 years). The median number of cycles per patient was 4 (range 2–6). Nine partial responses were obtained, resulting in an overall response rate of 33% [95% confidence interval (CI) 16–51], a median time to progression of 6.4 months (95% CI 5.4–7.4), and a median overall survival of 10.7 months (95% CI 6.6–14.8). Toxicity was mild; grade III-IV neutropenia was the most frequently observed side effect, in 9 administered cycles (8%); neutropenia was complicated by fever in 2 cycles. Other grade III–IV toxicities observed in >5% of patients were anemia and mucositis.     

A phase II study of oxaliplatin in combination with doxorubicin as first-line systemic chemotherapy in patients with inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose  We designed a phase II trial of the combination with oxaliplatin and doxorubicin for patients with unresectable HCC to evaluate the overall response rate (ORR) and the toxicity. Methods  Forty patients with inoperable, systemic chemotherapy naive HCC were enrolled. Finally, 32 patients received oxaliplatin (130 mg/m²) and doxorubicin (60 mg/m²) every 3 weeks. Results  Eighty-two treatment cycles were administered (median 2 cycles, range 1–6). There was no treatment-related mortality. The ORR was 15.6% (95% CI, 3.3–28.7) with five partial responses. The median overall survival and median overall progression free survival were 31 weeks (95% CI, 22–40 weeks) and 12 weeks (95% CI, 5-19 weeks). Nausea and peripheral neuropathy were most frequent non-hematologic toxicities (nausea, n = 15; peripheral neuropathy, n = 10). The most frequent grade 3–4 hematologic adverse event was neutropenia (14 of 82 cycles) including three cases of febrile neutropenia. Conclusions  The combination of oxaliplatin and doxorubicin showed modest activity and a tolerable toxicity profile in advanced HCC patients.     

氟尿嘧啶/亚叶酸联合奥沙利铂或紫杉醇治疗晚期胃癌--临床随机对比研究

目的：比较氟尿嘧啶／亚叶酸(5-FU／FA)联合奥沙利铂与5-FU／FA联合紫杉醇治疗晚期胃癌的近期疗效和毒副反应。方法：40例进展期胃癌患者随机分成两组，5-FU／FA联合奥沙利铂组(A组)20例，70．0％为复治患者，5-FU／FA联合紫杉醇组(B组)20例，55．0％为复治患者，转移部位包括肝、淋巴结、腹腔、腹壁等。结果：两组患者各有20例可评价疗效，A组CR2例，PR7例，有效率(CR PR)45．0％，B组PR9例，有效率45．0％。A组有20例评价毒性反应，主要为骨髓抑制、外周神经毒性、消化道反应、肝功能损害；B组有20例可评价毒性反应，主要为骨髓抑制、肝功能损害。结论：5-FU／FA联合奥沙利铂与联合紫杉醇治疗晚期胃癌疗效相当．毒性反应可耐受。两者相比，联合奥沙利铂具有用药方便，严重的毒副反应少等优点。     

Protracted continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to 5-fluorouracil bolus-based chemotherapy: a phase II study

Continuous-infusion (c.i.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) can overcome resistance to bolus 5-FU, and leucovorin (LV) enhances the cytotoxic effects of 5-FU, mainly when the duration of exposure to the latter is prolonged. The main objective of this study was therefore to determine the activity of a prolonged infusion schedule of 5-FU + LV in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to a 5-FU bolus-based chemotherapy. Only patients with metastatic measurable disease in progression during or within 2 months of the end of a 5-FU bolus ± LV-based chemotherapy were eligible for the study. 5-FU and l-LV were given as a 14-day c.i. every 28 days, the 5-FU dose being 200 mg/m² per day and the l-LV dose being 5 mg/m² per day. A total of 59 patients entered the study, of which 48 were resistant to 5-FU + LV and 11, to 5-FU + levamisole. Treatment was well tolerated, and WHO grade 3–4 toxicities were uncommon (11% of patients developed stomatitis and 7%, diarrhea). According to an intent-to-treat analysis, 10 of 59 patients obtained an objective response (1 complete response, 9 partial responses), for an objective response rate of 16% (95% confidence interval 8–25%). The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 4 and 9 months, respectively. The protracted 5-FU + LV c.i. schedule used in the present study is a well-tolerated and moderately active regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer patients resistant to 5-FU bolus ± LV. Only randomized studies can determine whether this palliative treatment has advantages in comparison with other second-line therapies such as 5-FU c.i. without LV, irinotecan, or oxaliplatin. Received: 22 September 1998 / Accepted: 5 January 1999     

Multicenter phase II study of bimonthly high-dose leucovorin, fluorouracil infusion, and oxaliplatin for metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to the same leucovorin and fluorouracil regimen.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the objective tumor response rates and toxicities of leucovorin (LV) plus fluorouracil (5-FU) cancer regimen combined with oxaliplatin (85 mg/m(2)) every 2 weeks on metastatic colorectal cancer patients with documented proof of progression while on bimonthly LV and 5-FU alone. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred patients were enrolled onto this study and 97 received the study drugs between October 1995 and December 1996. Eighty-nine patients were eligible for per-protocol efficacy analysis with documented proof of progression on one of the following two treatments: LV 500 mg/m(2) and continuous 5-FU infusion 1.5 to 2 g/m(2)/22 hours, days 1 through 2 every 2 weeks (FOLFUHD); or LV 200 mg/m(2), bolus 5-FU 400 mg/m(2), and continuous 5-FU infusion 600 mg/m(2)/22 hours, days 1 through 2 every 2 weeks (LV5FU2). In our study, 40 patients received FOLFUHD + 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin day 1 (FOLFOX3) and 57 patients received LV5FU2 + 85 mg/m(2) of oxaliplatin day 1 (FOLFOX4). RESULTS: Of the 97 patients treated, 20 partial responses were observed (FOLFOX3/4: response rate, 20.6%; 95% confidence interval, 13% to 31.1%; FOLFOX3: response rate,18.4%; FOLFOX4: response rate, 23.5%). For patients treated with FOLFOX3/4, the median response duration for was 7.5 months, and the major toxicities were peripheral neuropathy and neutropenia. The incidence of grade 3 (National Cancer Institute common toxicity criteria) peripheral neuropathy was 20.6%; whereas the overall incidence of grade 3 to 4 neutropenia was 27.8%, 15%, and 36.9% for FOLFOX3/4, FOLFOX3, and FOLFOX4, respectively (P =.02). From the start of treatment, median progression-free survival was 4. 7, 4.6, and 5.1 months for FOLFOX3/4, FOLFOX3, FOLFOX4, respectively, and median overall survival was 10.8, 10.6, and 11.1 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: This phase II study of oxaliplatin at 85 mg/m(2) in combination with bimonthly LV plus 5-FU in patients with colorectal cancer resistant to LV plus 5-FU alone confirms the enhanced antitumor activity of oxaliplatin in combination with 5-FU.     

Analysis of efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and leucovorin (PFML) and radiotherapy in the treatment of locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy using cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), methotrexate (MTX) and leucovorin (LV) (PFML) in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods Seventy-seven patients with previously untreated stages III–IV SCCHN were included in this trial. Patients received two cycles of chemotherapy repeated every 4 weeks. The chemotherapy regimen consisted CDDP (60 mg/m², day 4), 5-FU (600 mg/m² given over 24 h for 5 days, days 1–5), MTX (30 mg/m², day 1) and LV (20 mg/m², days 1–5). Radiation was targeted to begin on the starting day of chemotherapy, day 1. The total radiation dose to the primary site and neck lymph nodes was 70.0 Gy. When grade ≥3 toxicities were observed frequently, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy were delayed or reduced. Results The main toxicities were mucositis (grade ≥3, 39%), leukocytopenia (grade ≥3, 34%) and neutropenia (grade ≥3, 30%). The overall clinical response rate and the pathological complete response (CR) were 94% (72/77) and 71% (55/77). The primary site CR and neck lymph node CR were 79% (61/77) and 85% (44/52), and 3-year survival rate was 73%. Conclusions This concurrent chemoradiotherapy with PFML was safe and well tolerated. The high CR rate justifies further evaluation of this chemoradiotherapy modality in locally advanced SCCHN patients.     

A phase I/II trial of docetaxel and oxaliplatin in patients with advanced gastric cancer

Purpose  We designed this phase I/II study of docetaxel–oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy to determine the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), maximum tolerated dose and efficacy as a first-line treatment in patients with advanced gastric cancer. Methods  Patients with histologically proven, chemo-naive gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible. For the phase I part, three dose levels of oxaliplatin and docetaxel every 3 weeks were tested in a cohort of three patients for each level (respectively, 100 and 60 mg/m², 100 and 75 mg/m², 130 and 75 mg/m²). Patients were treated up to a maximum of nine cycles of oxaliplatin and docetaxel unless there was documented disease progression, an unacceptable adverse event, or withdrawal of consent. Results  No DLT was observed at any of the three levels tested in the phase I portion. Therefore, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² and docetaxel 75 mg/m² were recommended for the phase II study. All 47 patients were evaluable for toxicity and treatment response. The overall response rate was 55.3% (95% CI, 40.6–70.1%) and median duration of response was 4.2 months (range 0.9–9.5 months). After a median follow-up duration of 13.3 months, median overall survival was 12.7 months (95% CI: 10.4–14.9). The median time to progression was 5.0 months (95% CI, 3.4–6.5 months). The main toxicities (grade 3 or 4) were febrile neutropenia (14.9%), neutropenia (23.4%), diarrhea (10.6%) and neurotoxicity (8.5%). Conclusion  The combination of docetaxel and oxaliplatin was feasible with favorable toxicity profile and showed a promising anti-tumor activity in unresectable, metastatic gastric cancer patients.     

Sequential moderate-dose methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in advanced gastric adenocarcinoma

Summary A total of 23 patients with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma were treated with a combination of moderate-dose methotrexate (MDMTX), 250 mg/m² i.v., with folinic acid rescue and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 600 mg/m² i.v. Therapy was given every 7 days for 4 courses and then at 14-day intervals. All patients were evaluable for response. No complete responses occurred, but five patients (22%) had partial remissions (95% confidence limit, 5%–39%). The median duration of remission was 6 months, with a median survival of 11 months amongst responding patients. In all, six patients (26%) had stable disease for a median period of 5 months. The overall median survival was 6 months. Therapy was generally well tolerated, with principal toxicities consisting of neutropenia, nausea and vomiting, mucositis and diarrhoea. In terms of activity or survival in advanced gastric carcinoma, the combination of moderate-dose MTX and 5-FU does not appear to offer an advantage over single-agent therapy.     

Oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluorouracil/folinic acid in advanced gastric cancer: a multicenter phase II trial of the Southern Italy Cooperative Oncology Group

Purpose  This phase II trial assessed the tolerability and efficacy of a triplet of oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluorouracil/folinic acid in advanced gastric cancer. Methods  Patients with unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer, unexposed to palliative chemotherapy, received oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² iv and irinotecan 150 mg/m² iv on day 1, 6S-folinic acid 250 mg/m² iv and fluorouracil 750 mg/m² iv on day 2, every 2 weeks. Response rate (RR) was assessed after a minimum of four cycles, and treatment continued up to 12 cycles. Results  Sixty-three patients were treated, with a median of eight (range 1–12) cycles/patient. Two complete and 19 partial responses were registered (RR 33% [95% CI, 22–46%]). Median progression-free survival was 7.5 (95% CI, 5.6–9.4) months, and median overall survival was 12.1 (95% CI, 10.8–13.4) months. Most common grade ≥3 toxicities were neutropenia (59%), febrile neutropenia (7%), vomiting (20%), and diarrhoea (10%). All-grade neurotoxicity affected 33% of patients. Conclusions  Oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and fluorouracil/folinic acid administered every 2 weeks are safe and active in advanced gastric cancer. SICOG trial 0405, EudraCT number 2006-0066869-16.     

Phase II study of FOLFIRINOX for chemotherapy‐naïve Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

The FOLFIRINOX combination of chemotherapy drugs had not been fully evaluated for Japanese pancreatic cancer patients. Therefore, we carried out a phase II study to examine the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRINOX in chemotherapy‐naïve Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. FOLFIRINOX (i.v. infusion of 85 mg/m² oxaliplatin, 180 mg/m² irinotecan, and 200 mg/m² l‐leucovorin, followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m² fluorouracil and a 46‐h continuous infusion of 2400 mg/m² fluorouracil) was given every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was the response rate. The 36 enrolled patients received a median of eight (range, 1–25) treatment cycles. The response rate was 38.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 23.1–56.5); median overall survival, 10.7 months (95% CI, 6.9–13.2); and median progression‐free survival, 5.6 months (95% CI, 3.0–7.8). Major grade 3 or 4 toxicities included neutropenia (77.8%), febrile neutropenia (22.2%), thrombocytopenia (11.1%), anemia (11.1%), anorexia (11.1%), diarrhea (8.3%), nausea (8.3%), elevated alanine aminotransferase levels (8.3%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (5.6%). Febrile neutropenia occurred only during the first cycle. There were no treatment‐related deaths. FOLFIRINOX can be a standard regimen showing favorable efficacy and acceptable toxicity profile in chemotherapy‐naïve Japanese patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.     

Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Prostatitis Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis

Abstract

To investigate the therapeutic value and safety of the biweekly regimen of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) plus irinotecan (CPT-11) in patients with previously untreated advanced gastric cancer (AGC). A total of 50 patients (M/F 35/15; median age = 65) with AGC, none of whom had received chemotherapy for advanced disease, were accrued in this trial. Fifteen patients (30%) were 70 years old or older. At the time of their accrual, cytotoxic chemotherapy, consisting of LV 100 mg/m² (2-hour i.v. infusion) followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m² (bolus) and 5-FU 600 mg/m² (22-hour continuous infusion) on therapeutic days 1 and 2 plus CPT-11 180 mg/m² (1-hour infusion) on day 1, was initiated. Treatment courses were repeated every 2 weeks until evidence of progressive disease, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent. All patients were assessable for toxicity and 48 of 50 for response evaluation, having completed at least four courses of chemotherapy. Complete response was achieved in 2 patients (4%, intent to treat) and partial response in 16 (32%) (overall response rate, 36%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 22%-50%). Twenty-four patients (48%) had stable disease and 6 patients (16%) progressed. The median time to progression was 8 months (95% CI: 6-10 months) and median overall survival 14 months (95% CI: 6-22 months). Between the subgroups of patients <70 years old and 70 or older, there were no significant differences in efficacy. One toxic death occurred. Treatment tolerance was generally mild to moderate and easy to treat. The main grade 3/4 toxicities were neutropenia (32%), diarrhea (16%), and anemia (8%). Grade 3-4 neutropenia was the only treatment-related serious adverse event significantly more common in patients older than those aged ≤70 (53.3% vs 22.8%, respectively; P = 0.03). Our data suggest that the biweekly regimen of LV and 5-FU plus CPT-11 in untreated patients with AGC is active and has an acceptable safety profile. Further evaluation of this regimen seems to be warranted in a phase III trial.     

Docetaxel, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin as treatment for advanced gastric cancer: results of a phase II study

Background: Previous studies have shown that the taxane, docetaxel, is effective in treating gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of docetaxel in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV). Methods: Thirty patients with histologically proven locally advanced and/or metastatic gastric cancer with WHO performance status 0–2 were enrolled and received either 75 or 100 mg/m² docetaxel as a 1-h intravenous infusion on day 1 every 28 days. All patients also received 5-FU (1800 mg/m²) plus LV (500 mg/m²), by continuous intravenous infusion over 24 h on days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days. Chemotherapy was given for at least two cycles. Results: Of the 25 evaluable patients, 3 showed a complete response, 4 showed a partial response, and 11 patients had stable disease. The overall response rate was 28.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.4, 45.6). The median time to progression was 5.9 months (95% CI, 5.4, 6.5), and the median overall survival was 7.7 months (95% CI, 7.2, 8.3) for the intent-to-treat population. The most frequent grade III and IV hematological toxicities were neutropenia and anemia. Febrile neutropenia was observed in 10% of patients and 2.4% of cycles. The prophylactic use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in 3 patients reduced the incidence and severity of neutropenia. Other hematological toxicities were rare. Conclusion: Docetaxel in combination with weekly 5-FU and LV is effective in treating patients with advanced/metastatic gastric cancer. This new docetaxel-containing combination shows promise as a third-generation treatment option for gastric cancer. Received: December 25, 2001 / Accepted: April 22, 2002 Offprint requests to: M. Constenla     

Five-day continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and pulsed folinic acid in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma: An effective second-line regimen

Objective: A previous phase I trial in 14 pretreated patients with progressive advanced colorectal cancer demonstrated 750 mg/m² to be the maximum tolerable dose of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administered as a 5-day continuous infusion modulated by short infusions of 100 mg/m² folinic acid twice daily. The dose-limiting toxicities were hand-foot syndrome and severe mucositis. A response rate of 21% and 50% stable disease could be achieved. In order to determine the effectiveness and tolerability, we initiated a multicenter phase II trial applying a 650 mg/m² recommended dose of 5-FU and 100 mg/m² folinic acid twice daily every three weeks.Patients and methods: From January 1994 to July 1996, 88 advanced and progressive colorectal cancer patients either previously treated with a bolus schedule of 5-FU and folinic acid (34 patients) or without (54 patients) previous chemotherapy were included in this trial.Results: In the group of previously treated patients, therapy led to 6% (2 of 34 patients) remissions while stable disease could be observed in 68% (23 of 34 patients) of the patients. The median survival time was 14 months. The main toxicity was mucositis grade 3 in 15% of the previously treated patients and 10% in the nonpretreated patients. In the population of nonpretreated patients, the overall response rate was 15% (eight of 54 patients) and stable disease could be induced in 67% (36 of 54 patients). The median survival time was 13.7 months.Conclusion: This regimen is an active second-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer with minimal toxicity, thus preserving the quality of life during palliative chemotherapy. Antitumor activity in previously untreated patients does not seem superior to that obtained with weekly regimens applying 24- or 48-hour continuous infusions of 5-FU and folinic acid.     

Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination as first-line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer: a multicenter phase II study

Purpose  Gemcitabine is the only drug approved for single-agent therapy in advanced pancreatic carcinoma (APC). Gemcitabine-based combination chemotherapy has not yet shown promising results. Methods  This multicenter phase II study enrolled previously untreated patients with locally advanced and/or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients received 1,000 mg/m² gemcitabine, 100-min infusion, day 1 and 100 mg/m² oxaliplatin, 2-h infusion, day 2; q2w. The primary end point was response rate (RR). Results  Thirteen study centers enrolled 48 eligible patients of which 44 were evaluable. The RR, median overall survival, and median time to progression were 18.2%, 9.4 and 5.6 months, respectively. Sixteen patients (36.4%) experienced clinical benefit. The global quality of life scores improved by 11.71. Grade 3/4 peripheral sensory neuropathy was noted (2.1%), while the most common hematologic toxicity was anemia (grade 3/4, 6.3%). Conclusions  Gemcitabine and oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy showed a promising activity in APC patients and was well tolerated.     

Phase II study of short-time oxaliplatin, capecitabine and epirubicin (EXE) as first-line therapy in patients with non-resectable gastric cancer

Epirubicin, cisplatin and continuous infusion of 5-FU is a widely used palliative regimen in patients with gastric cancer. If cisplatin is substituted by oxaliplatin and 5-FU by capecitabine this regimen can be administered in the outpatient setting. Dose-limiting toxicity of oxaliplatin is peripheral sensory neuropathy and it is recommended to give oxaliplatin as a 120 min infusion. However, in patients with colorectal cancer a 30 min infusion of oxaliplatin can safely be administered without increasing neurotoxicity, standard infusion time is 30 min at our departments. In our phase I study the recommended doses of EXE was established (Dupont et al, 2006). Patients with non-resectable gastric adenocarcinoma were eligible. Patients received EXE (epirubicin 50 mg m⁻² day 1; capecitabine 1000 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ continuously and oxaliplatin 130 mg m⁻² day 1) as outpatient therapy every third week for a maximum of 8 cycles. From June 2004 to September 2005, we enroled 54 patients. Median age was 60 years (31–74 years) Median number of courses was 6 (1–8). Response rate was 45%. Median PFS was 6.8 (5.2–7.9) months and median survival was 10.1 (7.9–11.1) months. Most important grade 3 toxicities were as follows: nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea (6%). Neurotoxicity grade 2 was seen in 36.5%. We therefore conclude, that EXE every third week is a convenient regimen that easily can be administrated in the outpatient setting but the regimen needs further evaluation in a phase III study.