1. ¹Department of Clinical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
2. ²Department of Medical Oncology, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
3. ³Department of Medical Statistics, Christie Hospital NHS Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK

Correspondence: Dr MP Saunders, E-mail: mark.saunders@christie-tr.nwest.nhs.uk

Received 9 August 2006; Revised 10 November 2006; Accepted 13 November 2006.

Abstract

The feasibility of combining UFT plus leucovorin (LV) with alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin was investigated in the first-line treatment of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Twenty-five patients, median age 63 (range 24–79) years, World Health Organisation performance status 0–2 and median four marker lesions, received irinotecan 180 mg m^-2 on day 1, oxaliplatin 85–100 mg m^-2 on day 15 and UFT 200–300 mg m^-2 day^-1 with LV 90 mg day^-1, days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle. Patients were treated in cohorts of three. At the highest dose (irinotecan 180 mg m^-2, oxaliplatin 100 mg m^-2 and UFT 300 mg m^-2 day^-1), three of four patients experienced grade 3 toxicity. Diarrhoea, lethargy and vomiting were dose-limiting. Three of nine patients had grade 2 toxicities at the maximum tolerated dose (irinotecan 180 mg m^-2, oxaliplatin 100 mg m^-2 and UFT 250 mg m^-2 day^-1). There were no grade 3 toxicities in the first month of therapy. The overall response rate was 71% in 21 evaluable patients; progression-free survival was 8.8 months. Alternating irinotecan and oxaliplatin plus UFT is an effective and well-tolerated first-line treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We recommend a dose of irinotecan 180 mg m^-2 on day 1, oxaliplatin 100 mg m^-2 on day 15 and UFT 250 mg m^-2 day^-1 with LV 90 mg day^-1 on days 1–21 of a 28-day cycle for future studies.