PHASE-II STUDY OF ETOPOSIDE AND ALPHA-INTERFERON IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED MEASURABLE COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

Based on encouraging in vitro and in vivo data, 14 consecutive patient s with measurable metastatic previously untreated colorectal carcinoma were treated with a combination of intravenous etoposide and subcutan eous alpha-interferon. Etoposide was given at 60 mg/m2 intravenously o n days 1-5 and alpha-interferon at 5 million units/m2 subcutaneously o n days 1-5; courses were repeated every 21 days. All 14 patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. None of the patients achieved a c omplete or partial remission. Toxicity of this combination was moderat e. Our data suggest that this combination is ineffective against color ectal carcinoma.