CARBOPLATIN AND ETOPOSIDE IN ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA - A PHASE-II STUDY

Background. For advanced colorectal carcinoma, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-l eucovorin is the best therapy available. To improve results, a variety of drugs were added, including cisplatin (CDDP), sometimes with contr oversial results. The combination of CDDP and etoposide (VP-16) has sh own synergistic activity in other settings. Although VP-16 alone is co nsidered rather inactive in colorectal carcinoma, the authors believed it was appropriate to evaluate the combination of VP-16 and carboplat in (CBDCA) in this disease because the newer platinum analogue CBDCA h as more limited side effects than the parent compound. Methods. Twenty -eight patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma were treated with C BDCA (200 mg/m2, days 1-3) and VP-16 (100 mg/m2, days 1-5). Cycles wer e repeated every 4 weeks. All patients received at least two cycles (m edian, six cycles; range, two to eight cycles). Results. There were th ree complete responses and four partial responses. The median duration of response was 35 weeks (range, 25-84 weeks). The median time to tum or progression was 23 weeks (range, 9-84 weeks). The median survival t ime was 49 weeks (range, 9-151+ weeks). Toxic effects generally were a ssessed as mild, with no Grade 4 (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group c lassification) toxic effects observed during this study. Conclusions. Response rate and toxic effects observed during this study warrant add itional studies comparing this regimen with 5-FU-based regimens in adv anced colorectal carcinoma.