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Capecitabine plus weekly oxaliplatin in gastrointestinal tumors: a phase I study.

Carlomagno C, Orditura M, Pepe S, De Vita F, Romano C, Ciardiello F, Ferrara C, Martinelli E, Bianco R, Aurilio G, D'Agostino D, Tortora G, Catalano G, De Placido S

Dipartimento di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Molecolare e Clinica, Università di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oxaliplatin was given by 2-hour iv infusion on days 1 and 8, and capecitabine was given orally, from day 1 to 14, every 3 weeks. We tested 4 levels of doses: 1) capecitabine 1650 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2; 2) capecitabine 2000 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 50 mg/m2; 3) capecitabine 2000 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2; and 4) capecitabine 2500 mg/m2 + oxaliplatin 60 mg/m2. Patients with gastrointestinal neoplasm were eligible for the study. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled. At dose level 4, 3 patients had unacceptable toxicity (grade 3 diarrhea, grade 4 diarrhea, and grade 3 mucositis, respectively), thus, level 4 was the MTD. Apart from DLT, overall toxicity was mild: grade > or =3 nonhematological toxicity occurred in 3 patients, and hematological toxicity was sporadic. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that clinically relevant doses of capecitabine (2000 mg/m2 from day 1 to 14) plus oxaliplatin (60 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8) every 3 weeks can be given without causing unacceptable toxicity.

Published 7 February 2006 in Am J Clin Oncol, 29(1): 85-9.
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