Irinotecan, Continuous 5-Fluorouracil, and Low dose of Leucovorin (modified FOLFIRI) as First Line of Therapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.
10.3904/kjim.2005.20.3.205
- Author:
Myung Ah LEE
1
;
Jae Ho BYUN
;
Byoung Young SHIM
;
In Sook WOO
;
Jin Hyung KANG
;
Young Seon HONG
;
Kyung Shik LEE
;
Myung Gyu CHOI
;
Suk Kyun CHANG
;
Seong Taek OH
;
Sung Il CHOI
;
Doo Suk LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. angelamd@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Irinotecan;
5-FU;
Leucovorin;
Colorectal cancer
- MeSH:
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*drug therapy;
Neoplasm Metastasis/*drug therapy;
Middle Aged;
Male;
Leucovorin/administration & dosage;
Humans;
Fluorouracil/administration & dosage;
Female;
Disease Progression;
Colorectal Neoplasms/*drug therapy/pathology;
Camptothecin/administration & dosage/analogs & derivatives;
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*administration & dosage;
Aged;
Adult
- From:The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
2005;20(3):205-209
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Irinotecan, in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and a high dose of leucovorin (LV), known as FOLFIRI regimen, has shown activity in recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of irinotecan, 5-FU and a low dose of LV (modified FOLFIRI) as a first line of therapy for patients with relapsed or metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: Between January 2002 and October 2004, 44 patients with histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer were enrolled. The chemotherapy regimen schedule consisted of 180 mg/m2 of irinotecan being administered intravenously (i.v) on Day 1, 400 mg/m2 of 5-FU via i.v bolus with 600 mg/m2 of continuous infusion for 22 hrs on both Day 1 and 2, and 20 mg/m2 of leucovorin on both Day 1 and 2, repeated every two weeks. RESULTS: The overall response rate was 47.8%. Of the 40 evaluated patients, one had CR (2.3%) and 20 had PR (46.5%). Toxicities were mild and easily manageable. Three patients experienced 23 episodes of Grade 3/4 leukopenia., Only one patient developed Grade 3/4 diarrhea. None experienced Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia. CONCLUSION: Modified FOLFIRI with a low dose of LV is an effective and tolerable regimen for patients with recurrent or metastatic colorectal cancer.
