MITOMYCIN-C AND LONIDAMINE AS 2ND-LINE TREATMENT OF ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER PATIENTS

To date no effective salvage regimens have been reported for progressi ve or relapsed patients with advanced colorectal cancer, and new poten tially active drugs or combinations should be evaluated for these situ ations. In vitro studies have suggested that lonidamine (LND) positive ly modulates the cytotoxic activity of mitomycin (MMC) in human colon cancer cell lines. From November 1993 to February 1995, 29 colorectal cancer patients previously treated with first line chemotherapy were a dmitted to the study. Treatment consisted of a combination of MMC at 1 2 mg/m(2) administered intravenously on day 1, and LND at 150 mg per o s three times daily for five consecutive days, starting two days befor e MMC; the treatment was repeated every four weeks for a total of 109 cycles. All patients were fully evaluable for response and toxicity. T wo partial responses (7%), 10 stable disease, and 17 progressive disea se were observed. Median survival duration was 212 days. Toxicity was mild, with no WHO grade 3-4 toxicity. MMC + LND combination therapy do es not seem to be effective in previously treated advanced colorectal cancer patients.