Treatment Information

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Colon Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy, Biologic therapy.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:3City/State/Province:Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Treatments:Chemotherapy, Biologic therapyHospital:University of North Carolina
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Jul 2006

Description:

Patients: This trial involved a total of 305 patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. Patients were divided into two groups – Group A with 151 patients and Group B with 154 patients. In Group A there were 97 men and 54 women and the median age was 60. In Group B there were 90 men and 64 women and the median age was 58.

Treatment: The treatment for patients in Group A consisted of chemotherapy (fluorouracil and irinotecan) and biological therapy (leucovorin which acts the same way in the body as folic acid). The treatment for patients in Group B consisted of chemotherapy (fluorouracil and oxaliplatin) and biological therapy (leucovorin). This treatments is called FOLFOX4.

Toxicity: The death rates within the first 60 days of treatment were 3.3% for patients in Group A and 2.0% in Group B. The authors did not specify whether these deaths were treatment or cancer related. In addition, grade 3 or above toxicities included neutropenia, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Results: The median overall survival for patients in Group A was 16.3 months. For Group B it was 19.0 months.

Support: Various authors were either consultants, stockholders, or honoraria recipients of Sanofi-Synthelabo, Inc.

Correspondence: Richard M. Goldberg, MD



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