Adjuvant chemotherapy in colorectal cancer

P. Papadopoulou-Zekeridou1, E. Alexandridis1, I. Delithanasis1 , T. Zekeridis1, F. Lagra1, X. Krokidis1 and N. Lazaridis1

(1) 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Kavala General Hospital, 61 Amerikanikou Erythrou Stavrou, 65201 Kavala, Greece


Abstract Our aim was to study the three-fold response to treatment, survival rates and toxicity.
Materials and methods We review 76 patients (median age 66.2 years) affected with the disease. All received adjuvant chemotherapy, while 13 with rectal cancer were subjected to radiation too. Patients were staged after Dukes classification.
Results Recurrence was noted in 15 patients, 3 at stage B and 12 at stage C; median recurrence-free interval was 18.9 months. Patients without relapse had a median disease-free period of 35.9 months. Median overall survival was 35.21 months. The 5-year survival mark have surpassed 14 patients (3 with recurrent disease): 8 at stage B and 6 at stage C. Ten have died; median survival in these patients was 30.5 months. No patients suffered from severe bone marrow toxicity; mucositis and diarrhoea grade III/IV was noted in 10 patients.
Key words Colorectal cancer - Adjuvant chemotherapy - 5-Fluoracil - Leucovorin