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| |  ECCO11: Xeloda (Capecitabine)/Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin) Combo Highly Effective in Colorectal Cancer LISBON, PORTUGAL/BASEL, SWITZERLAND -- October 24, 2001 -- A new chemotherapy combination, Xeloda (capecitabine) and Eloxatin (oxaliplatin), is highly effective in first line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer and requires fewer days in the clinic for the patient than the standard all-intravenous therapy, according to study results of a large global clinical trial presented today at the European Cancer Conference (ECCO), in Lisbon, Portugal. The Xeloda-Eloxatin combination was highly effective providing a substantial shrinkage of the tumour in half of the patients and also kept the tumour from growing for over six months. "My patients can claim their lives back with this new combination," said Dr. Chris Twelves, of the Beatson Oncology Centre in Glasgow, Scotland, who is one of the study investigators. "They are getting one of the most active treatments available for their disease, and they only have to spend a few hours in the clinic per month. Patients receiving this combination can spend more time at home with their families." The global trial (1) assessed the combination of Xeloda tablets taken at home, twice a day for two weeks, and a two-hour infusion of Eloxatin every three weeks, in 96 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. The Xeloda-Eloxatin combination was highly effective providing a substantial shrinkage of the tumour in half of the patients and also kept the tumour from growing for over six months (at the median). This result compares favourably with data obtained with a current standard colorectal cancer treatment, the all-intravenous combination of 5-FU/Leucovorin (infused non-stop for 48 hours every two weeks) and Eloxatin. However, the Xeloda/Eloxatin combination avoids the inconvenience and discomfort that the all-intravenous regimen requires, including patients having to spend several days in the clinic every month to receive the all-intravenous regimen. The all intravenous-treatment means permanent catheters or under-the-skin injection devices that are painful to insert, uncomfortable to live with and get in the way of things like seatbelts, and can even lead to dangerous blood clots and infection. As Xeloda is a tablet, there is no need for these devices, making Xeloda far more convenient for the patient than 5-FU/Leucovorin. Recent trials have shown that Xeloda can also be effectively combined with both irinotecan and radiotherapy, creating new effective and convenient treatment options for patients with colorectal cancer which eliminate cumbersome infusional 5-FU/Leucovorin therapy by replacing it with oral Xeloda. The new combination of Xeloda with Eloxatin should represent an improvement in patient care, both in terms of convenience and quality of life. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide among men and women combined. According to the World Health Organisation, nearly 1 million patients suffered from colorectal cancer in 2000 with half of them dying from the disease (2). In Europe, as in the rest of the world, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer is increasing. Approximately 190,000 patients are newly diagnosed annually (3) and almost 200,000 patients died from the disease last year (2). References 1. Twelves, C, et al. Capecitabine in combination with Eloxatin as first line therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer: preliminary results of an international multicenter phase II study. Abstract XX, European Cancer Conference 11, October 21-25, Lisbon, Portugal. 2. World Health Organisation. Globocan Database, 2000. 3. Landis SH, Murray T, et al. Cancer statistics 1999. CA Cancer J Clin. 1999; 49:8-31.
SOURCE: Roche Related Link: Roche.
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