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Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer patients

  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the efficiency and safety of the oxaliplatin, fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin regimen (FOLFOX) in previously untreated patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer.

Methods

Previously untreated patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer received 100 mg/m2 of oxaliplatin intravenously (IV) over 2 h on day 1, and IV 400 mg/m2 of leucovorin over 2 h followed by a bolus of 400 mg/m2 of 5-FU. Then 2,600–3,000 mg/m2 of 5-FU was administered by continuous infusion over 46 h.

Results

An evaluated response rate was determined for 97 of 105 treated patients. The overall response rate was 35.1%, 9 patients (9.3%) had a complete response and 25 patients (25.8%) a partial response. Thirty-two patients (33.0%) developed stable disease and 32.0% of the patients progressed. The median time to progression (TTP) was 7.7 months and the median overall survival 20.5 months. One and 2-year survival rates were 68% and 32%. Toxic effects based on the National Cancer Institute-Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC), reaching grade 3/4 were: neutropenia 12.3%, anemia 11.3%, vomiting 4.1% and diarrhea 7.2%. Grade 3 neuropathy was 5.1%. The overall survival rate of patients who had received a radical resection was superior to the patients who had not received a operation, or had received a palliative resection (P=0.0658). The serum levels of CEA, ALP and LDH had no relationship with survival (P>0.05).

Conclusion

The FOLFOX regimen containing oxaliplatin, 5-FU plus leucovorin was an efficacious regimen with good tolerability in previously untreated metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yatsen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China

    Bing Han, Ruihua Xu, Yanxia Shi, Huiyan Luo, Xiaojuan Xiang, Yuhong Li, Li Zhang, Tongyu Lin & Youjian He

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  1. Bing Han
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  2. Ruihua Xu
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  3. Yanxia Shi
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  4. Huiyan Luo
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  5. Xiaojuan Xiang
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  6. Yuhong Li
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  7. Li Zhang
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  8. Tongyu Lin
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  9. Youjian He
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ruihua Xu.

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Han, B., Xu, R., Shi, Y. et al. Oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFOX) as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer patients. Chin. J. Clin. Oncol. 4, 397–400 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11805-007-0397-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11805-007-0397-9

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