Capecitabine vs. Fluorouracil for Colorectal Cancer

Patients who received oxaliplatin-based regimens plus either oral capecitabine or infusional fluorouracil achieved similar survival outcomes.

With the advent of new chemotherapeutic and biological agents, median survival in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) has improved from <1 year to ≥2 years during the past decade. Phase III trial results have indicated that one such chemotherapy drug, orally administered capecitabine (Xeloda), can substitute for standard intravenous fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with advanced disease (N Engl J Med 2005; 352:2696). Other findings have indicated that capecitabine also might be less toxic than intravenous 5-FU (J Clin Oncol 2001; 19:4097).

To compare the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)-based chemotherapy (CAP/OX) versus 5-FU plus oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (FU/OX), investigators conducted a…

Reviewing Author

David H. Ilson, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAstraZeneca; Merck; Taiho; Astellas; Bristol Myers Squibb; Regeneron; Oncolys; Amgen; Daiichi Sankyo

David H. Ilson, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAstraZeneca; Merck; Taiho; Astellas; Bristol Myers Squibb; Regeneron; Oncolys; Amgen; Daiichi Sankyo