Objective: to develop an effective, well-tolerated, convenient for outpatient care (without installing a subclavian catheter) three-component treatment regimen that includes ftorafur – an original oral fluoropyrimidine drug.
Materials and methods. The study included 25 patients with disseminated colorectal cancer that have never received specific pharmacotherapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a new first-line three-component treatment regimen with oxaliplatin + irinotecan + ftorafur. Patients in group 1 (n = 6) received this regimen for 3 weeks, whereas patients in group 2 (n = 19) received it for 2 weeks.
Results. Only preliminary results of the study are currently available. Median time to progression and overall survival are not yet estimated. Three (50 %) patients from group 1 achieved partial regression of metastases; 3 patients from this group had long-term (≥6 months) disease stabilization. Therapeutic effect (partial remission + long-term stabilization) was observed in all patients. Time without progression varied between 6 and 20 months. In group 2, therapeutic effect was estimated in 18 patients that received at least 2 courses of chemotherapy. Eight out of these 18 patients had partial response (2 of them underwent radical surgery); 8 patients had disease stabilization. Thus, 88.8 % of patients from group 2 responded to treatment. In the whole study population (both groups), response to treatment was achieved in 91 % of patients.
Conclusion. Our preliminary results suggest that the combination of oxaliplatin, irinotecan and ftorafur is safe and has an acceptable toxicity profile; therefore, it can be used in weakened patients.