Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of hydroxycamptothecin (H) combined with leucovorin (L), fluorouracil (F) and cisplatin (P) on advanced cancer of gastric cardia and colorectal cancer.
Methods: Sixty-five patients with advanced cancer of gastric cardia or colorectal cancer were treated by LFH or LFPH regimen. All patients completed four cycles of treatment, in 21 days per cycle.
Results: The overall response rate (RR) was 26.2% (17/65) with partial response (PR) in 17 patients, stable disease (SD) in 31 and progressive disease (PD) in 17. The clinical benefit response rate (CR + PR + SD) was 73.8% (48/65). The RR were 32.3% (10/31) for untreated patients and 20.6% (7/34) for retreated patients. The stable rate was 47.7% (31/65). The RR of patients with cancer of gastric cardia were 33.3% (5/15) for untreated treatment and 29.4% (5/17) for retreated ones. Median survival time (MST) was 10 months. Median time to progression (MTTP) was 8 months. Grade 3 - 4 toxicities were stomatitis (10.8%), nausea and vomiting (12.3%) and leukopenia (6.2%). Most patients (> 80%) developed Grade 1 - 2 alopecia.
Conclusion: The regimen of HCPT combined with LV, 5-Fu and DDP appears to be an effective and tolerable therapeutic option for advanced cancer of gastric cardia and colorectal cancer, especially for the former and retreated patients, giving a satisfactory stable rate though not very high.