A phase II study of chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal carcinoma with 5-fluorouracil plus cisplatin - A Southwest Oncology Group study

The combination of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin has shown encouraging results in single institution pilot studies in colorectal carcinoma. This phase II SWOG study was undertaken to further evaluate this treatment. Cisplatin was administered at a dose of 60 mg/M² IV day 1, repeated every 21 days. 5-FU was given at a dose of 15 mg/Kg IV days 1, 8, and 15, with cycles repeated every 21 days. Among 47 eligible patients there were no complete responses and only three partial responses for an overall response rate of 6% with a 95% confidence interval of 1% to 18%. Seventeen patients (36%) had stable disease/no response and 22 (47%) progressed. Five patients (10%) had no evaluation and were assumed to have had no response, or were early deaths. Median survival was 9.1 months. Significant hematologic toxicity was seen with grade 3 leukopenia occurring in 11 patients. There were felt to be two deaths definitely related to treatment and two additional deaths possibly treatment related. The combination of 5-FU and cisplatin used in this dose and schedule is an ineffective and toxic regimen for treatment of colorectal carcinoma.