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

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical and Molecular Medicine Department, Sapienza University, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189, Rome, Italy

    Adriana Romiti, Concetta Elisa Onesti, Michela Roberto, Viola Barucca, Chiara D’Antonio, Valeria Durante, Annalisa Milano, Rosa Falcone, Roberta Di Rocco, Riccardo Righini & Paolo Marchetti

  2. Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy

    Silverio Tomao

  3. Oncology Unit, ICOT, Latina, Italy

    Silverio Tomao

Authors
  1. Adriana Romiti
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  2. Concetta Elisa Onesti
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  3. Michela Roberto
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  4. Viola Barucca
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  5. Silverio Tomao
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  8. Annalisa Milano
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  9. Rosa Falcone
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  10. Roberta Di Rocco
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  11. Riccardo Righini
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  12. Paolo Marchetti
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Correspondence to Adriana Romiti.

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Romiti, A., Onesti, C.E., Roberto, M. et al. Continuous, low-dose capecitabine for patients with recurrent colorectal cancer. Med Oncol 32, 54 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-015-0496-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-015-0496-z

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