Study: Outpatient Therapy for Advanced Colorectal Cancer Well Tolerated

German researchers report that the combination of irinotecan, fluorouracil (5-FU) and folinic acid, used as a first-line outpatient chemotherapy treatment for advanced colorectal cancer, appears to be generally well tolerated despite some early problems.

The so-called Saltz regimen has been questioned by some after high early death rates due to gastrointestinal and thromboembolic events were reported in two U.S. trials.

But the researchers, reporting in the journal Anti-Cancer Drugs, said their evaluation of the safety and efficacy of this regimen in 46 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer treated at nine German outpatient clinics found few serious problems.

"Severe gastrointestinal toxicity and thromboembolic events were rarely observed and never fatal," the researchers said. "One non-fatal pulmonary embolism occurred."

The researchers said four complete responses and 10 partial responses to the treatment were seen for an overall response rate of 35 percent. In addition, 16 patients had stable disease.

"We conclude that outpatient treatment with the Saltz regimen was well tolerated," the researchers reported.

Other Sources: Journal of the National Cancer Institute