Analysis of efficacy and toxicity of conventional chemotherapy for colorectal cancer

Response to conventional chemotherapy (fluorouracil 500 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 30 and leucovorin 500 mg/m2 i.v. as a 2-hour infusion on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 30 an hour before fluorouracil administration with a 2-week interval between cycles) was assessed in colorectal cancer patients treated at the Chemotherapy Departments of the N.N. Blokhin RCRC and YRCC. The comparative analysis of tolerance and toxicity of the same chemotherapy regimen depending on the ethnic group of the patients was carried out. The fluorouracil/leucovorin regimen was found to be effective and well tolerated in colorectal cancer patients. The overall response rate was 40 % in patients treated at the N.N. Blokhin RCRC and 36.7 % in patients treated at YRCC. More pronounced toxicity was observed in patients treated at YRCC.