Capecitabine and mitomycin-C in the therapy of pretreated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: single center retrospective study with 36 patients
Vrdoljak, E.; Omrcen, T.; Boban, M.; Hrepic, D.
Journal of BUON Official Journal of the Balkan Union of Oncology 13(4): 513-518
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1107-0625 PMID: 19145672 Document Number: 618981
To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of treatment with capecitabine and mitomycin-C (MMC) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer previously treated with at least one chemotherapy regimen for recurrent or metastatic disease. A total of 36 patients (male/female 21/15, median age 62.5 years) with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with capecitabine and MMC as their second, third or fourth line chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy consisted of intravenous MMC 6 mg/m(2) on day 1 plus oral capecitabine 1000 mg/m(2) twice daily on days 1-15 followed by 7-day rest. Treatment courses were repeated every 3 weeks unless there was evidence of progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. All 36 patients were evaluable for toxicity and response. A total of 175 cycles were administered (median 4.86, range 3-6). Two (5.6%) patients achieved complete response, 3 (8.3%) partial response, 14 (38.9%) had stable disease and 16 (44.4%) patients progressed. Median time to tumor progression (TTP) was 4.5 months and median overall survival (OS) 13 months. No toxic deaths occurred. Toxicity was mild and easily manageable. This retrospective study demonstrated that the combination of capecitabine and MMC is an effective and well-tolerated regimen for patients previously treated for metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer.