Concurrent capecitabine and upper abdominal radiation therapy is well tolerated

Radiat Oncol. 2006 Oct 24:1:41. doi: 10.1186/1748-717X-1-41.

Abstract

We retrospectively evaluated acute toxicity in 88 patients that were treated with capecitabine and concurrent radiotherapy to the upper abdomen. These patients included 28 (32%) with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 18 (20%) with cholangiocarcinoma, 11 (13%) with ampullary carcinoma, 11 (13%) with other primary tumors, 14 (16%) with liver metastases, and 6 (7%) with metastases at other sites. The median dose of radiotherapy was 45 Gy (range 30-72 Gy). The median dose of capecitabine was 850 mg/m(2) twice daily, with 77% receiving 800-900 mg/m(2) twice daily. The highest grade of acute toxicity was Common Terminology Criteria (CTC) grade 0 in 5 (6%), grade 1 in 60 (68%), grade 2 in 18 (20%), and grade 3 in 5 (6%) patients. No patient had CTC grade 4 toxicity. The most common grade 2 toxicities were nausea, hand-foot syndrome, fatigue, anorexia and diarrhea. The grade 3 toxicities included nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Three patients (3%) required hospitalization due to grade 3 acute toxicity. Capecitabine was interrupted, discontinued or given at an adjusted dose in 13 (15%) patients because of acute toxicity. Therefore, capecitabine and concurrent radiotherapy to the upper abdomen appears to be well tolerated. Capecitabine may serve as an alternative to bolus or infusional 5-FU during chemoradiation for upper gastrointestinal malignancies.

MeSH terms

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Capecitabine
  • Deoxycytidine / administration & dosage
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / analogs & derivatives*
  • Fluorouracil / pharmacology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Radiotherapy / methods*
  • Radiotherapy Dosage
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Capecitabine
  • Fluorouracil