EFFECT OF ADRIAMYCIN, 5-FLUOROURACIL AND MITOMYCIN-C COMBINATION CHEMOTHERAPY IN ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER

One hundred and seventy-four patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), mitomycin-C (MIT-C) and Adriamycin (ADR) (FAM). The total response rate was 26.4%. A higher response rate (37%) was observed in patients with liver metastases only, compared to other sites of metastases (p < 0.02). Complete remission were achieved only in patients with liver metastases (15%). Male patients with liver metastases had a higher response rate than females (p < 0.03). Twenty-five patients previously treated unsuccessfully with 5-FU and MIT-C showed a response rate of 28% when ADR was added to the regimen. The patients' median survival was 11 months (range: from 3 to greater than or equal to 60 months). The median survival of patients with liver metastases was 11 months and that of responders (20 months) was significantly longer than that of nonresponders (7 months; p < 0.0001). These results suggest that the FAM combination might be considered an eligible chemotherapy schedule for patients with liver metastatic disease from colorectal cancer.