Phase II study of cisplatin and dacarbazine for metastatic colorectal carcinoma resistant to 5-fluorouracil

Twenty-six patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were given cisplatin (CDDP) and dacarbazine (DTIC), Patients who relapsed while receiving adjuvant 5-fluorouracil (FU) or had 5-FU-resistant metastatic disease were included. Median age was 52 years and the male-to-female ratio was 1. Performance status (ECOG) was 3 in 5 patients and 0-2 in the remainder. CDDP (20 mg/m(2)/day i.v.) and DTIC were given (250 mg/m(2)/day i.v.) on days 1-5. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression. Total response rate was 19.2% (95% confidence interval: 4.5-34.3%) with one clinical complete response (3.8%) and 4 partial responses (15.4%). Median response duration was 5 months. Median survival for the whole group and for responders was 6 and 8 months, respectively. In conclusion, CDDP + DTIC combination has modest activity in patients with colorectal cancer resistant to 5-FU treatment.