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. 2000 Aug 16;83(5):583–587. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1340

Capecitabine in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma

K Oevermann 1, J Buer 1, R Hoffmann 1, A Franzke 1, A Schrader 1, T Patzelt 2, H Kirchner 1, J Atzpodien 1,2,3
PMCID: PMC2363511  PMID: 10944596

Abstract

To evaluate the therapeutic effects and systemic toxicities of a capecitabine-based home therapy regimen in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, 30 patients were enrolled in a phase II clinical trial. Treatment consisted of oral capecitabine combined with subcutaneous recombinant human interferon-α 2a, recombinant human interleukin-2 and oral 13-cis-retinoic acid. There were two (7%) complete responses (CRs) and eight (27%) partial remissions (PRs), for an overall objective response rate of 34% (95% CI 17–53%). Except one, all responses are ongoing, with a median duration of 9+ and 8+ months for CRs and PRs, respectively. Additionally, 12 patients (40%) reached stable disease. Eight patients (27%) showed continued disease progression despite treatment. Therapy was well tolerated and was given in the outpatient setting. Capecitabine-related World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 and 3 toxicities were observed in five and two patients respectively, and were limited to fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, stomatitis, dermatitis and hand-and-foot syndrome. The substitution of capecitabine for 5-FU in the pre-existing biochemotherapy regimen did not result in a reduced therapeutic efficacy and showed significant anti-tumour activity in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords: renal cell carcinoma, capecitabine, 13-cis-retinoic acid, alpha-interferon

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Selected References

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