From September 2001 to November 2002, 35 patients aged 70-81 (median, 75) years, with measurable metastatic lesions from colorectal carcinoma, were treated with a combination of oxaliplatin (OXA) infused i.v. over 2 h on day 1, and capecitabine, assumed orally twice a day (12-h apart) from day 2 to day 15. An alternated dose escalation for both drugs was planned over the first three cycles for each patient, in the absence of WHO grade > or =2 toxicity on previous cycle: starting doses were 85 mg/m2 for OXA, and 2000 mg/m2 (day) for capecitabine on first cycle; on second cycle, OXA was planned at 100mg/m2, while capecitabine was planned at 2500 mg/(m2 day) on third cycle. Treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until progression, or for a maximum of 12 cycles. A total of 212 cycles were administered, with a median of 6 (range, 1-12) cycles/patient. Dose escalation was performed in 18 (51%) patients for OXA, and in 4 (11%) patients for capecitabine. No grade 4, and 10 (29%) cases of grade 3 toxicity of any type were reported. Abdominal symptoms (pain, nausea, or vomiting) affected 66% of patients, but they were of grade 3 in only 2 (6%) patients. Grade 3 diarrhoea occurred in 3 (9%) patients. Two complete and 12 partial responses (PR) were reported, for an overall response rate of 40% (95% CI, 24-58%). Progression of disease occurred in 23 (66%) patients, and 18 (51%) died. The actuarial median progression-free and survival time were 6.9 and 14.1 months, respectively.