Combination chemotherapy of colorectal cancer with 5‐fluorouracil, methyl‐1,3‐cis(2‐chloroethyl)‐1‐nitrosourea, and vincristine

The combination of 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU), methyl‐1,3‐cis(2‐chlorethyl)‐1‐nitrosourea (methylCCNU), and vincristine (VCR) has been reported to produce a 43.5% response rate in metastatic colorectal cancer, although subsequent studies did not produce such good response rates. The clinical trial reported here was undertaken to assess the reported results. In 52 evaluable patients the overall response rate was 11%. No complete remissions were observed. Six patients with colon carcinoma had a partial remission lasting for a median of ten months, with a median survival of 15 months. No responses were observed in rectosigmoid cancer. The median survival for nonresponders was 7.5 months. Thirty‐three percent of the patients had significant hematological toxicity (white count ≤ 1,000/mm³, platelets ≤ 50,000/mm³); 58% of the patients experienced nausea and vomiting; and 32% experienced some degree of neurotoxicity. In our hands the combination of 5‐FU, methylCCNU, and VCR produced a response rate of 11% in metastatic colorectal cancer with a considerable amount of toxicity.