Oxaliplatin combined with 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate in advanced colorectal cancer

Background: A promising regimen including 5-Fluorouracil, methotrexate and oxaliplatin is reported. Patients and Methods: Patients with untreated measurable metastatic disease received bolus 5-Fluorouracil (600 mg/m(2)) on days 2 and 16, modulated by methotrexate (200 mg/m(2)) 24 h earlier, alternated with 4 weeks of continuous infusion of 5-Fluorouracil (200 mg/m(2)/daily) plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m(2)) on days 29 and 56, followed by 2 weeks of rest. Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was analyzed at baseline and before every cycle. Results: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled. Objective remissions were reported in 45.6% (95% CI=34.3%, 57.3%). The median progression free survival was 7.8 months and the median overall survival was 19.4 months. No grade 4 toxicity was reported, except for one case of diarrhea. The serum VEGF evaluated in 23 patients showed a decreasing trend during therapy. Conclusion: The regimen was active, well tolerated and may be a possible option in patients not suitable for radical surgery