Treatment Information

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Rectal Cancer treatment details. Chemotherapy, Surgery.

Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Santa Monica, California
Treatments:Chemotherapy, SurgeryHospital:Saint John's Health Center
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Mar 2002

Description:

Patients: This Phase II study involved 185 patients with unresectable colorectal hepatic (liver) metastases that had gotten worse (i.e. progressed by CT and/or CEA levels) while these patients received the chemotherapy 5-FU. For all patients the cancer was adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum.

Treatment: The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 comprised 114 patients who received cytoreductive surgery alone; Group 2 comprised 71 patients who received cytoreductive surgery plus hepatic arterial floxuridine (FUDR) and systemic irinotecan (camptosar) – two chemotherapy drugs.

Toxicity: Perioperative mortality was 2%. Of all patients, 1% developed renal failure, 1% developed multisystem organ failure, and 5% developed respiratory failure requiring prolonged intubation. Other toxicities included: increase in enzyme levels, neutropenia and diarrhea. Sixty percent of patients required a dose reduction in FUDR.

Results: For Group 2 (patients who received the additional chemotherapy), the median survival (estimated from the time of surgery) was 30.6 months.

Correspondence: Anton J. Bilchik, MD, PhD




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