Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of FOLFIRI-bevacizumab (B) in the 2nd line therapy of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (MCRC).
Methods: Between March 2006 and July 2009 35 patients with MCRC were treated with 2nd line therapy FOLFIRI- B (irinotecan 180 mg/m(2) D1, folinic acid 200 mg/m(2) D1, 5-fluorouracil/5 FU 400 mg/m(2) bolus D1, followed by 5 FU 2600 mg/m(2) 46-h continuous infusion, and bevacizumab 5 mg/kg D1, every 2 weeks) Their data were collected and analysed.
Results: The patient median age was 54 years (range 36-75). One patient (2.8%) had received oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy and 33 patients (94.3%) were exposed to oxaliplatin during first line chemotherapy for MCRC. The median follow up period was 12.2 months (range 1.5-37.9). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 5.7% of the patients and the sum of CR and partial remission (PR) was 11.4%. Disease control (CR+PR+stable disease/SD) was registered in 74.3% of the patients. During follow up, progression (PD) was seen in 32 (91.4%) patients and 23 (65.7%) patients had died. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 7.4 months (95%CI 5.5-9.3) and the median overall survival (OS) 13 months (95%CI 8.8-17.2). Grade 3-4 toxicity requiring delay of chemotherapy was observed in 12 (34.3%) patients with 10 patients (28.6%) having neutropenia and 2 (5.7%) diarrhea.
Conclusion: FOLFIRI-B may be an efficient and safe choice in the 2nd line treatment of patients with MCRC previously treated with oxaliplatin.