Cytarabine and cisplatin as salvage therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who failed 5-fluorouracil + folinic acid regimen. French Northern Oncology Group.

The combination of CDDP and ARA-C has shown some clinical efficiency as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer. Our study was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of this combination in advanced colorectal cancer who failed 5-fluorouracil (FU) and folinic acid (LV) regimen. Seventeen patients with measureable metastatic colorectal cancer who failed 5FU-LV therapy as first line (n = 14) or second line treatment (n = 3), entered the study. Three patients who recurred during adjuvant treatment with 5FU and levamisol, were also included. Median age was 59.5 (40-69). Performance status was as follows: 0 (n = 5), 1 (n = 11), 2 (n = 3), 3 (n = 1). Site of metastases included liver (n = 16), lung (n = 7), abdomen (n = 2), pelvic recurrences (n = 2), cutaneous (n = 1). Seven patients had 2 metastatic sites and two 3. The treatment was given as follows: ARA-C 75 mg/m2/day, days 1-3, followed 1 hour later by CDDP 30 mg/m2/day, days 1-3, every 28 days. The median number of cycles was 3 (range: 1-6 cycles). All patients but one were evaluable for both response and toxicity. Of these patients, 50% experienced severe hematologic toxicity and nonhematologic toxicity mainly consisted of fatigue and/or vomiting. No objective response was observed, but there were 3 stabilizations and 16 progressive diseases. Median time to progression was 10 weeks. Thus, the CDDP/ARA-C regimen is not of clinical value as salvage therapy in advanced colorectal cancer because of its toxicity and its lack of efficiency.

[Primary cancer of the vagina and indications for therapy: on the basis of 52 cases]. / Le cancer primitif du vagin et ses indications thérapeutiques. A propos de 52 observations.

The authors studied 52 cases of primary cancer of the vagina, 7 stage I, 23 stage II, 7 stage III, and 15 stage IV. For every one primary cancer of the vagina they found 58 cancers of the cervix, 6 cancers of the endometrium, 5 cancers of the ovary, and 4 cancers of the vulva. The extent of these cancers at the time of the first examination is explained by their clinical latency. Treatment was by radiotherapy (radium therapy and telecobaltotherapy) with or without surgery. At present the 5-year survival rate is 23.8 percent. The use of high-energy therapy should lead to a distinct improvement in the results.