Randomized multicenter phase III trial of oxaliplatin plus raltitrexed compared to oxaliplatin plus fluorouracil and leucovorin treatment in recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer

4102 Purpose: To compare oxaliplatin (L-OHP) plus raltitrexed (RTX) with L-OHP plus fluorouracil and leucovorin (LV/5FU) for patients (pts) with recurrent and metastatic colorectal cancer(CRC). Methods: Eligible pts had to have histologically proven recurrent or metastatic CRC,not having previously received oxaliplatin as palliative chemotherapy,ECOG PS = 2,age:18∼70,and adequate hematological,renal and hepatic function.After written informed consent,pts were randomized to L-OHP:130 mg/m2 d1 + RTX: 3 mg/m2 d1 (Arm A) or + LV: 200 mg/m2 + 5FU:375 mg/m2 d1–5 (Arm B). Results: Between Jan 2005 and July 2006, 216 pts were enrolled at 15 centers in China.112 pts (mean age: 55.0 (19∼70), M/F: 57/46, PS 0/1/2: 46/53/13) were randomly assigned to A and 102 (mean age: 54.2(22∼70), M/F: 54/46, PS 0/1/2: 44/59/9) to B. 203 pts were eligible for response evaluation (A:103, B:100).The median number of cycles was 4 (1∼6) in A and 3 (1∼6) in B (P=0.1431).The RR was 29.1% (CR:2, PR:28, SD:50 , PD:23) in A and 17.0% (CR:2, PR:15, SD:46 , PD:37) in B (P=0.0437).The disease-control rate was 77.7% in A and 63.0% in B (P=0.0237). After a median follow-up of 10 months (4–16.5),92 pts had had progression of disease (40 in A and 52 in B); 73 deaths had occurred (35 in A and 38 in B), median time to progression was not reached. Following-up is ongoing.The median QoL scores for the two arms were comparable. 214 were included in the safety analyses (A:112, B:102). There was a higher incidence of neutropenia (48.2% verse 29.4%, P=0.005) and transaminase increase (49.1% verse 35.3%, P=0.041) among A. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia was much common in pts in A than those in B (20.5% verse 4.9% , P=0.001), but was complicated by fever in only 3.6% of cases (4 pts) in A and in 2.9% of cases (3 pts) in B. No pts were dead or infectious due to neutropenia. There were similar rates of grade 3 or 4 transaminase elevation in the two groups. Vomitting and anorexia were much commoner with B. Conclusions: The L-OHP+RTX seems beneficial in recurrent and metastatic CRC, demonstrating better response rate and higher disease control rate with acceptable tolerability, maintenance of QoL and convenient administration schedule. No significant financial relationships to disclose.