Capecitabine and irinotecan with and without bevacizumab for advanced colorectal cancer patients

AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of cape-citabine plus irinotecan ± bevacizumab in advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

METHODS: Forty six patients with previously untreated, locally-advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were recruited between 2001-2006 in a prospective open-label phase II trial, in German community-based outpatient clinics. Patients received a standard capecitabine plus irinotecan (CAPIRI) or CAPIRI plus bevacizumab (CAPIRI-BEV) regimen every 3 wk. Dose reductions were mandatory from the first cycle in cases of > grade 2 toxicity. The treatment choice of bevacizumab was at the discretion of the physician. The primary endpoints were response and toxicity and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and overall survival.

RESULTS: In the CAPIRI group vs the CAPRI-Bev group there were more female than male patients (47% vs 24%), and more patients had colon as the primary tumor site (58.8% vs 48.2%) with fewer patients having sigmoid colon as primary tumor site (5.9% vs 20.7%). Grade 3/4 toxicity was higher with CAPIRI than CAPIRI-Bev: 82% vs 58.6%. Partial response rates were 29.4% and 34.5%, and tumor control rates were 70.6% and 75.9%, respectively. No complete responses were observed. The median progression-free survival was 11.4 mo and 12.8 mo for CAPIRI and CAPIRI-Bev, respectively. The median overall survival for CAPIRI was 15 mo (458 d) and for CAPIRI-Bev 24 mo (733 d). These differences were not statistically different. In the CAPIRI-Bev, group, two patients underwent a full secondary tumor resection after treatment, whereas in the CAPIRI group no cases underwent this procedure.

CONCLUSION: Both regimens were well tolerated and offered effective tumor growth control in this outpatient setting. Severe gastrointestinal toxicities and thromboembolic events were rare and if observed were never fatal.

Chemotherapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer

Significant advancements in chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have been achieved over the past decade, and the median overall survival duration is now close to 24 months with appropriate treatment. The most widely recommended chemotherapy regimens are based on the use of irinotecan or oxaliplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin; some data suggest further benefit with the addition of the targeted agents bevacizumab or cetuximab. Colorectal cancer primarily affects the elderly; however, much of the defining clinical research in this field has excluded subjects of advanced age or with a poor performance status, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret current treatment paradigms for their older patients. Most clinical trials that have included elderly patients document similar survival rates and toxicity profiles to those seen in younger patients. Moreover, survey data suggest that >70% of elderly patients with cancer are willing to undergo strong, palliative chemotherapy. While these findings suggest that age itself should not determine candidacy for chemotherapy, it is important to note the great heterogeneity of the elderly population with regard to overall health, independence, and performance status. The use of a comprehensive geriatric assessment is recommended to evaluate chemotherapy appropriateness. The management of frail elderly patients and those with a short life expectancy should be focused on palliation, while fit elderly patients can receive aggressive therapy in a similar fashion to younger patients.

Phase-II study of dose attenuated schedule of irinotecan, capecitabine, and celecoxib in advanced colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme plays a major role in tumor progression and resistance to chemotherapy. A Phase-II study was undertaken to determine the activity of a dose attenuated schedule of irinotecan, capecitabine, and the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

METHODS

The eligibility criteria included a pathologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum that was metastatic. Patients received a combination of irinotecan 70 mg/m2 over 30 min I.V. on days 1 and 8, capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice per day orally on days 1-14, and celecoxib at a daily dose of 800 mg continuously. Cycles were repeated every 21 days.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients were enrolled (median age 58 years; M : F 31 : 20). The objective response rate was 21/51 = 41% [95% confidence intervals (CI), 0.28-0.55]. The median time to progression was 7.7 months (95% CI, 6.2-8.6 months). Median survival time and probability of survival at 1 year were 21.2 months (95% CI, 13.8-n/a), and 75% (95% CI, 0.63-0.88), respectively. The major toxicity was Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea, seen in 24 and 10% of patients, respectively. There were no treatment related deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

The lower dose intensity of irinotecan appeared to maintain activity and improve tolerability when combined with capecitabine. The addition of celecoxib to irinotecan and capecitabine did not appear to significantly increase the activity of this doublet based on the RECIST criteria for objective response.