Oxaliplatin added to 5-fluorouracil-based therapy (5-FU +/- FA) in the treatment of 5-FU-pretreated patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (ACRC): results from the European compassionate-use program.

Purpose: To provide evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of oxaliplatin (Eloxatin®) when given as a 2–6-hour i.v. infusion, alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid (5-FU ± FA) in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma (ACRC) who have failed 5-FU-based therapy. To confirm the safety of the drug and its combination in an extended-access context.Patients and methods: Prescribing physicians were supplied oxaliplatin on a nominative compassionate-use basis, after obtaining informed consent. Europe-wide, 206 ACRC patients in 44 centers received 1168 cycles of chemotherapy with oxaliplatin (80–100 mg/m² q 2 weeks or 100–135 mg/m² q 3 weeks) delivered as a short (2–6 hours) i.v. infusion, 177 of them (1026 cycles) receiving oxaliplatin + 5-FU ± FA.Results: Oxaliplatin added to the 5-FU ± FA regimens of 111 verified 5-FU-refractory patients (imaging and/or clinical proof of progression under prior 5-FU-based regimen), elicited objective responses in 25 of 98 evaluable patients, (ORR: 25.5%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI: 17–35). The median time to progression was 4.1 months (95% CI: 3.3–5.0) and the median overall survival was 9.6 months (95% CI: 8.2–10.9). Differences in the toxicity profile of the oxaliplatin + 5-FU ± FA combination appear related to administration modality, dose and schedule of the 5-FU-based regimen.Conclusions: The addition of oxaliplatin (2–6-hour i.v. infusion) to 5-FU ± FA regimens is active in ACRC patients with clinical resistance to fluoropyrimidines. The therapeutic index of oxaliplatin + 5-FU ± FA combinations administered as salvage therapy compares favorably with those reported in recent phase II–III trials involving other new agents or combinations active in 5-FU-refractory ACRC patients.