A prospective randomized trial of continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) versus 5-FU plus cisplatin in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. A trial of the Spanish Cooperative Group for Digestive Tract Tumor Therapy (T.T.D.)

• Published in: American journal of clinical oncology Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 56
• Main Authors: Díaz-Rubio, E, Jimeno, J, Antón, A, Aranda, E, Sánchez, J, Massuti, B, Cruz-Hernández, J, Carrato, A, Martin, M, Belón, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.02.1992
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy; Adult; Aged; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Cisplatin - administration & dosage; Colorectal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Fluorouracil - administration & dosage; Fluorouracil - therapeutic use; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Remission Induction
• ISSN: 0277-3732; 1537-453X
• DOI: 10.1097/00000421-199202000-00011

One hundred sixty consecutive patients with histologically confirmed colorectal cancer (advanced disease) without prior chemotherapy were entered in a randomized trial comparing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 1,000 mg/m2 intravenously per day for 5 consecutive days in continuous infusion versus cisplatin (CP) 100 mg/m2 on day 1 plus 5-FU as described on days 2 to 6. In both arms, treatment was recycled every 4 weeks. Both groups were well balanced for age, sex, colon or rectal origin, median time between diagnosis to advanced disease, performance status at entry, and visceral involvement. The overall response rate in the combination and in the single arm were 18 and 23%, respectively. There were no differences in time to progression (a median of 17.8 and 14.9 weeks for CP-5-FU and 5-FU, respectively) and in overall survival (a median of 71.2 and 59.6 weeks, respectively). The incidence of grade 3-4 emesis was significantly higher in the CP-containing chemotherapy (p = .00001). Our study has failed to demonstrate any clinical benefit from adding cisplatin to 5-FU in patients with cancer of the colon and rectum.