To assess the activity and tolerability of the combination of mitomycin C and capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer after failure of irinotecan- and oxaliplatin-containing regimens.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients with pretreated advanced colorectal cancer who had been treated with mitomycin C, 6 mg/m2 on day 1, and capecitabine, 1,900 mg/m2 on days 1–14, every 3 weeks. Tumor assessment was performed every 3 cycles, toxicity assessed at each cycle.
Results
Main patient characteristics were median age, 61 years (range, 35–73); male/female ratio, 16/12; single metastatic site involvement, 5/28 (18%); ≥3 metastatic sites, 10/28 (36%). Ninety-six courses of therapy were given (median number, 3; range, 1–9). Twenty-six patients were assessable for response, and all were assessable for toxicity. There was 1 partial response (4%) and 12 had stable disease (43%). Median time to progression was 2 months (range, 1–9) and median overall survival was 6 months (range, 1–29+), with a 1-year overall survival rate of 25%. The regimen was very well tolerated without significant hematological toxicity.
Conclusions
Our results are disappointing. Despite the good safety profile, they do not support further investigation or the routine use of this regimen in this setting.
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