Feasibility and efficacy of capecitabine and FOLFIRI in patients aged 65 years and older with advanced colorectal cancer: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Purpose: A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the tolerability and efficacy of single-agent capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) in the first-line treatment of patients aged > or =65 years with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Methods: Consecutive patients with mCRC treated at the Military Medical Institute, Warsaw, between January 2003 and June 2008 were eligible. A total of 123 patients were identified (FOLFIRI, n = 67; capecitabine, n = 56).

Results: The overall response rate with FOLFIRI was 28.1 versus 16.4% with capecitabine (P = 0.1398). Median time to disease progression with FOLFIRI was 8.8 versus 7.5 months with capecitabine (P = 0.20), and median overall survival was 19.0 versus 15.4 months (P = 0.93). In the FOLFIRI group, neutropenia and anaemia were significantly more frequent than in the capecitabine group. The main non-haematological toxicity was hand-foot syndrome found only in the capecitabine group.

Conclusion: Single-agent capecitabine and FOLFIRI are effective first-line regimens in patients aged > or =65 years with mCRC.