Hepatic chemoembolization combined with systemic infusion of 5-fluorouracil and bolus leucovorin for patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma - A Southwest Oncology Group pilot trial

BACKGROUND. Rates of response to systemic chemotherapy among patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma rarely exceed 25-30%, and complete responses are rare. The liver is the most common site of metastasis; however, regiona l therapies have not improved survival rates. The Southwest Oncology Group designed a clinical trial combining hepatic arterial chemoembolization with systemic infusion of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy in an attempt to increase the complete response rate and prolong the time to disease progression. METHODS, Patients with documented liver metastasis from colorectal carcinom a were treated with two or three cycles of chemoembolization using a collag en suspension with doxorubicin, mitomycin C, and cisplatin. Subsequently, s ystemic chemotherapy with continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and weekly leucovorin was initiated. Patients were assessed for response at 12-week in tervals, with treatment continuing until disease progression. RESULTS. Thirty-one eligible, evaluable patients were treated. One complete and 8 partial responses were observed, for an overall response rate of 29% . Fifty-eight percent of patients survived 1 year, and the median survival for the whole cohort was 14 months. The median time to progression was 8 mo nths. Seven patients (23%) experienced Grade 4 toxicity and 21 patients (67 %) had Grade 3 toxicity. CONCLUSIONS. The response rate in this trial was comparable to that achieve d with systemic chemotherapy consisting of a fluorinated pyrimidine-based r egimen for patients with this disease. No improvement in complete response rate or time to progression was observed compared with the Southwest Oncolo gy Group's experience with systemic therapy. The authors are not planning t o study this regimen further as a treatment for patients with metastatic co lorectal carcinoma. (C) 1999 American Cancer Society.