TREATMENT OF ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER WITH FOLINIC ACID AND 5-FLUOROURACIL IN COMBINATION WITH CISPLATINUM

51 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (stage Dukes D) were tre ated with intravenous (i.v.) infusion on days 1, 3, 5, 8 and 16 with f olinic acid (200 mg/m(2)) and 5-fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2)), and on day s 1, 8 and 16 with cisplatinum (25 mg/m(2) i.v.); cycles were repeated every 4 weeks. All 51 patients were evaluable for toxicity and respon se criteria. 26 patients had objective responses (3 complete responses , 5.9%; 23 partial responses, 45.1%), relative risk 51% (95% confidenc e intervals 36.7-65.0%). Response duration ranged from 4 to 28.0 month s (median 16.8). Overall median survival of all patients included was 14.7 months (range 3.0-33.0). Toxicity of WHO grade III, requiring dos e reduction, occurred in 9 (18%) patients. The regimen described here appears to be active, safe and well tolerated for treatment of patient s with advanced colorectal cancer.