CISPLATIN AND CHRONIC ORAL ETOPOSIDE AS SALVAGE THERAPY FOR ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

Patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma who have failed 5-fluoro uracil-based chemotherapy have no effective second-line treatment avai lable. Recent studies demonstrating clinical synergy between cisplatin and etoposide, and other; exploring the efficacy of etoposide regimen s utilizing chronic oral administration, suggested the utility of a ne w regimen incorporating these elements to treat refractory colorectal carcinoma. Fourteen patients were treated with weekly cisplatin and da ily oral etoposide for 21 days in cycles of 28-35 days. Toxicity was s ignificant, both hematologic and gastrointestinal in these pretreated patients. There were no objective responses, and median survival was 9 .5 months. Weekly cisplatin and daily oral etoposide are poorly tolera ted and ineffective in the treatment of refractory colorectal carcinom a. Further studies are needed to discover effective therapy for this d isease.