Continuous, low-dose capecitabine for patients with recurrent colorectal cancer.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose metronomic oral capecitabine in pretreated or frail patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Patients with recurrent colorectal cancer and prior treatment with fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan or unable to receive standard chemotherapy because of toxicity concerns were included. Treatment consisted of oral capecitabine 1,500 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Response rates were determined according to RECIST criteria. The end points were disease control rate [(DCR) consisting of complete response, partial response (PR), and stable disease (SD)], overall survival (OS), and safety. Sixty-eight patients, median age 72.5 years, were treated. The median number of previous treatments was 2 (range 0-5). Sixty-two percent of patients had received ≥2 previous lines of treatment. The overall DCR was 26%, PR in 2 (3%) and SD in 14 (23%). Nineteen percent of patients were progression free for at least 6 months. In an exploratory analysis, there was a significant relation of performance status with DCR (HR = 3.3; P = 0.05). The median OS was 8 months. DCR was associated with a longer survival (HR = 0.4; P < 0.01). Grade 3 toxicities included anemia (1), diarrhea (1), and hand-foot syndrome (1). There were no cases of grade 4 toxicity or treatment-related deaths. Metronomic capecitabine was moderately active and well-tolerated in pretreated or frail patients with recurrent colorectal cancer.

• Authors: Adriana Romiti, Concetta Elisa Onesti, Michela Roberto, Viola Barucca, Silverio Tomao, Chiara D'Antonio, Valeria Durante, Annalisa Milano, Rosa Falcone, Roberta Di Rocco, Riccardo Righini, Paolo Marchetti
• Journal: Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England) (Med Oncol) Vol. 32 Issue 3 Pg. 54 (Mar 2015) ISSN: 1559-131X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25638466 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
• Capecitabine

Topics

• Administration, Metronomic
• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Capecitabine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
• Survival Analysis
• Treatment Outcome