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. 2014 Apr 2;7:501–511. doi: 10.2147/OTT.S38843

Role of capecitabine in treating metastatic colorectal cancer in Chinese patients

Feng Wang 1,*, Feng-Hua Wang 1,*, Long Bai 1, Rui-Hua Xu 1,✉
PMCID: PMC3979786  PMID: 24729715

Abstract

The China Food and Drug Administration approved the use of capecitabine in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in 2004. This paper reviews the available information of capecitabine in Chinese patients with mCRC, focusing on its effectiveness and safety against mCRC. Identification of all eligible studies was made by searching the PubMed and Wanfang database from 2000 to 2013. Published data examining various aspects of clinical response and tolerability with capecitabine alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic or biological agents for first- and second-line mCRC were examined. Capecitabine and its combination displayed high efficacy in Chinese patients with mCRC. Toxicities are generally manageable, and elderly patients can tolerate capecitabine well.

Keywords: capecitabine, metastatic colorectal cancer, Chinese

Colorectal cancer in the People’s Republic of China

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in women and the fourth most common cancer in men worldwide.1,2 Previous studies have shown rapid increases in CRC incidence rates in economically transitioning countries, including most parts of Asia, Eastern European countries, and some countries in South America.3 Due to a lack of an effective national surveillance system, there has been little information available on the relationship between CRC and geographical environment in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). However, the incidence of CRC in the PRC has increased in both urban and rural areas recently, particularly in more developed areas, such as Guangdong and Shanghai.4–6 According to a report by the Chinese Ministry of Health, the incidence of CRC has increased from the sixth to the third most common cancer, while mortality ranked fifth in all cancer types.7 The pattern of CRC has changed significantly in the last two decades, with a decrease of rectal cancer and a significant increase of proximal colon (including transverse and ascending colon) cancer.7 Because early diagnosis of CRC has shown little progress in the PRC, a lot of patients are still diagnosed at a late stage.

Management of metastatic colorectal cancer

5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been used to treat CRC for decades, and remains the backbone of CRC chemotherapy. Median survival of metastatic CRC (mCRC) was 12 months with 5-FU as the sole active agent.8 Prolonged infusion of 5-FU in combination with leucovorin regimens such as de Gramont et al and the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Internistische Onkologie (AIO) study group achieved, improved efficacy and safety profiles compared with the bolus 5-FU/leucovorin (LV).9,10 Since 2000, with the approval of irinotecan and oxaliplatin, combination regimens of infusional 5-FU/LV plus oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and infusional 5-FU/LV plus irinotecan (FOLFIRI) led to median survivals in the 15- to 20-month range.8 Although infusional 5-FU has increased therapeutic effect, long-term central venous access causes considerable inconvenience and a high rate of complications, such as thrombosis and infection.11 Under these circumstances, oral analogs of 5-FU, including tegafur-uracil, capecitabine, and S-1 have been created. These orally administered 5-FU analogs enable physicians treating CRC to mimic the effect of infusional 5-FU, but in a convenient outpatient setting, without the complications and costs associated with infusion pumps and parenteral therapies. In countries like the PRC, where medical resources are limited and imbalanced between urban and rural areas, oral administration of chemotherapy drugs would potentially reduce travel costs and use of health care resources.

Oral capecitabine (N4-pentyloxycarbonyl-5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine, Xeloda®; Roche, Basel, Switzerland) demonstrated a statistically significant superior response rate (26% versus [vs] 17%), equivalent time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS), and an improved safety profile and improved convenience compared with intravenous bolus 5-FU/LV (Mayo Clinic regimen) as first-line treatment for mCRC.12 The doublet combination of capecitabine plus oxaliplatin (XELOX) has been shown to be noninferior to FOLFOX as first-line and second-line treatment for mCRC in terms of response rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and OS in multiple studies.13–19 On the other hand, the combination of capecitabine with irinotecan (XELIRI) was inferior to FOLFIRI in terms of PFS and OS.20,21 In addition, adverse effects, including diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration occurred more frequently in the XELIRI group than in the FOLFIRI group.20

With the advent of three humanized monoclonal antibodies that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; bevacizumab) and the epidermal growth-factor receptor (cetuximab and panitumumab), the treatment algorithms and survival for mCRC patients have changed dramatically. Another two molecularly targeted agents – intravenously administered aflibercept,22 a recombinant fusion protein consisting of human VEGF extracellular domain and the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G1, and regorafenib,23 an orally active inhibitor of angiogenic tyrosine kinases (including the VEGF receptors 1, 2, and 3), as well as several other membrane-bound and intracellular kinases were recently approved for mCRC by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).24 Among these targeted agents, only bevacizumab and cetuximab have been approved by the Chinese FDA so far. However, because public health insurance does not cover either bevacizumab or cetuximab, most Chinese patients do not choose targeted therapy with cytotoxic drugs as first-line chemotherapy.

Mechanistic and pharmacological aspects of capecitabine

Capecitabine is a novel oral fluoropyrimidine carbamate designed to generate 5-FU selectively in tumor tissue through exploitation of higher intratumoral concentrations of thymidine phosphorylase.12 Oral capecitabine rapidly and extensively passes through the gastrointestinal tract, with a time to reach peak concentration of 2 hours and peak plasma drug concentration of 3–4 mg/L.25 It has a relatively short elimination half-life of 0.55 to 0.89 hour,25 linear pharmacokinetics, and 40%–45% absolute bioavailability.26

Capecitabine generates 5-FU through a three-step enzymatic cascade (Figure 1).27 It is converted first by carboxylesterase to 5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine in the liver, second by cytidine (Cyd) deaminase to 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in the liver and tumor tissues, and finally by thymidine phosphorylase (dThdPase) to 5-FU in tumors. Carboxylesterase was found to be almost exclusively located in the liver and hepatoma, but not in other tumors and normal tissue adjacent to the tumors. Cyd deaminase was located in high concentrations in the liver and various types of solid tumors. The final enzyme dThdPase showed higher concentrations in various tumor types, including colorectal, breast, and gastric cancers, than in normal tissues.27 In primary colorectal tumors, capecitabine was preferentially activated in the tumor, with the average concentration of 5-FU being 3.2 times higher than in adjacent healthy tissue (P=0.002).28 However, this tissue 5-FU concentration differential was not detected in liver (metastasis/healthy tissue 5-FU concentration ratio =1.4, P=0.49). Repeated administration of capecitabine did not cause significant plasma accumulation of fluorouracil precursors 5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine and 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine.25 During long-term administration, plasma concentrations of fluorouracil increase by 10%–60%, which is assumed not to be clinically relevant.25 Catalytic inactivation of 5-FU is performed by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase, which is polymorphically expressed.26

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Capecitabine generates 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) through a three-step enzymatic cascade. Capecitabine is first converted to 5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine(5′-dFCR) by carboxylesterase (CE) in the liver, then by cytidine deaminase (CyD) to 5′-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5′-dFUR) in the liver and tumor tissues, and finally by thymidine phosphorylase (TP) to 5-FU in tumors. Catalytic inactivation of 5-FU is done by dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD).

Methods

PubMed and Wanfang were searched for published clinical studies, and proceedings from the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society for Medical Oncology were searched for abstracts pertaining to capecitabine as treatment of mCRC. Efficacy and safety data were used when possible. Missing data were designated as “not available.”

Capecitabine in first-line chemotherapy for mCRC

In the PRC, the first registered Phase II multicenter clinical trial of capecitabine in mCRC was done in 2004. This trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of capecitabine as first-line therapy in Chinese patients with mCRC (Table 1).29 Sixty patients with advanced CRC were recruited to receive single-agent capecitabine treatment from December 2000 to November 2001. The dosage of capecitabine was 1,250 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1–14 of each 21-day cycle. The overall response rate (ORR) was 23.3%, with 40% stable disease (SD). The median TTP and OS were 10.1 and 14.7 months, respectively, while the 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 63.9% and 33.4% respectively. As shown in Table 1, grade 3–4 adverse effects were diarrhea (6.6%), anemia (3.3%), and hand–foot syndrome (HFS; 1.7%).

Table 1.

Capecitabine in first-line treatment of Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Study Evidence level Median age (years) n Treatment detail ORR DCR mTTP/mPFS Median OS Grade 3–4 adverse effects
Diarrhea (%) Vomiting/nausea (%) Neutropenia/leukopenia (%) Anemia (%) Neuropathya (%) HFS (%)
Guan et al29 IIb 56 60 Capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 bid D1–14 23.3% 63.3% 10.1 14.7 6.7 0 0 0 0 1.7
Li et al32 IIb 52 124 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 49.1% 81.4% 8.0 20.0 15.3 35.4 50.8 4 42 25.0
Wu and Wu70 IIb 43 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 65.1% 93.0% NA NA 0 2.3 14 0 4.7 0
40 OLF: 5-FU 1,000 mg/m2 D1–2, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 2 weeks 55% 95% NA NA 2.5 2.5 17.5 5 7.5 0
Luo and Ouyang71 IIb 61 31 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 48.4% 83.9% 6.8 NA 16.1 58.1 67.7 NA 6.5 48.4
59 31 FOLFOX: 5-FU 2,400 mg/m2 48 hours civ, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 IV D1, LV 200 mg/m2 D1, oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2/D1, every 2 weeks 51.6% 87.1% 7.1 NA 12.9 67.8 83.9 NA 22.6 0.0
Deng et al33 IIb 56 32 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 62.5% 84.3% NA NA NA 31.3 6.3 0 9.4 NA
58 32 FOLFOX: 5-FU 300 mg/m2 IV drip D1–5, LV 200 mg/m2 D1–5, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 34.4% 71.8% NA NA NA 3.1 6.3 0 0 NA
Wu and Sun34 III 55 20 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 45.0% 65.0% 7.0 13.1 0 5 10 0 5 10
53 23 FOLFOX: 5-FU 2,400 mg/m2 CIV 48 hours, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 IV D1, LV 200 mg/m2 D1, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2, every 2 weeks 43.5% 67.9% 7.0 13.8 0 8.7 30.4 0 4.3 0
Zhang et al35 IIb 31 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 48.4% 80.6% 7.1 13.7 3.2 9.7 0 0 0 9.7
67 FOLFOX: 5-FU 2,400–3,000 mg/m2 CIV 48 hours, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 IV D1, LV 300 mg/m2 D1, oxaliplatin 100 mg/m2, every 2 weeks 47.8% 80.6% 7.5 14.1 4.5 13.4 16.4 0 0 0
Wang et al36 IIb 38 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1 47.4% 76.3% NA NA 2.2 13.4 19.8 19.4 15.9 25
46 mFOLFOX6: oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 D1, LV 400 mg/m2 D1, 5-FU 400 mg/m2 D1, 5-FU 2.4 g/m2 CIV 46 hours, every 2 weeks 52.5% 78.3% NA NA 0 12.2 16.8 17.3 16.4 0.2
Choi et al37 IIb 60 43 XELIRI: capecitabine 850 mg/m2 bid D1–5 every 7 days, irinotecan 180 mg/m2 D1, every 2 weeks 51.4% 78.0% 10 15.4 8.1 0 5.4 2.7 NA 2.7
Yue and Liu72 IIb 47 39 XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 100 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 48.7% 92.3% NA NA 12.8 2.6 10.3 0 NA NA
38 5-FU 400 mg/m2 D1–2, 5-FU 600 mg/m2 D2 CIV, LV 200 mg D1–2, every 3 weeks 21.1% 71.1% NA NA 0 2.6 5.3 0 NA NA
Yu and Wu38 III NA 27 XELIRI: capecitabine 625 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 90–125 mg/m2 D1, every 2 weeks 51.9% 84.6% 12.5 17.9 7.4 0 0 NA 22.2 7.4
16 FOLFIRI: CPT-11 90–125 mg/m2 D1, LV 30 mg/m2 D1, 5-FU 425 mg/m2 D1, every 2 weeks 31.3% 62.5% 8.4 14.2 18.8 6.3 0 NA 0 0
Zhao et al73 III 61 48 XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D2–15, irinotecan 240 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks, followed by surgery if possible 56.3% 85.5% 16.7 27.5 17 4.3 8.5 0 0 4.3
Lv and Feng42 IIb 63 27 XELOX + Bev: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, bevacizumab 5 mg/kg D1, D15, every 3 weeks 74.0% 85.0% 7.3 NA 0 0 3.7 0 0 0
64 26 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 42.0% 62.3% 5.4 NA 0 0 7.7 0 0 0
Jing and Guo43 IIb 58 31 XELOX + bevacizumab: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg D1, every 3 weeks 61% 80% NA NA 23.0 NA 35.0 NA 10.0 10.0
57 32 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 34% 66% NA NA 25.0 NA 31.0 NA 13.0 6.0
Li et al54 IIa 61 32 Capecitabine for maintenance: 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, every 3 weeks 33.3% 9 40.4 3% 0 0 0 0 0
57 52 Nonmaintenance 32.7% 6.5 21.5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yang et al55 III <75 29 Capecitabine for maintenance: 1,250 mg/m2 bid D1–14, every 3 weeks 41.5% 100% 12.4 NA 0 0 0 0 0 12.0
Ling and Zhao56 III 56 33 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, every 3 weeks 33.3% 54.6% NA NA NA 0 6.1 9.1 9.1 6.1
54 33 XELOX + Kanglaite: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14 + oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1, Kanglaite 100 mL D1–14, every 3 weeks 57.6% 78.8% NA NA NA 0 3 0 6.1 3
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a

Note: According to an oxaliplatin-specific scale.

Abbreviations: bid, bis in die (twice daily); D, day(s); CR, complete response; CPT-11, camptothecin-11; PR, partial response; NA, not available; ORR, objective response rate; DCR, disease-control rate; mTTP, median time to progression; mPFS, median progression-free survival; HFS, hand–foot syndrome; CIV, continuous intravenous; 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil; OS, overall survival; LV, leucovorin.

Based on these promising findings and results from two randomized international Phase III clinical trials,30,31 the Chinese FDA has approved capecitabine for use as a first-line therapy in patients with mCRC. Followed by this approval, combinations of capecitabine with oxaliplatin or irinotecan as first-line therapy have been investigated for treating Chinese patients with mCRC. Since oxaliplatin was approved earlier than irinotecan in the PRC, it has been used more widely in first-line chemotherapy of mCRC, thus its combination with capecitabine has been tested in multiple studies. In one Phase II single-arm clinical trial, Li et al treated mCRC patients with XELOX as first-line therapy.32 Oral capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice daily for 2 weeks and intravenous oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1 of each 21-day cycle was administered. The therapy was active, yielding an ORR of 49.1% and SD rate of 32.3%. The median PFS and OS were 8 and 20 months, respectively. The most common grade 3–4 toxicities were neutropenia (5.6%), nausea, and vomiting (4%), thrombocytopenia (2.4%), diarrhea (2.4%), and HFS (2.4%). The authors concluded that XELOX is a highly effective first-line treatment for Chinese patients with mCRC. The efficacy and safety of XELOX have been compared with FOLFOX as first-line treatment for patients with mCRC (Table 1). In another Phase II trial, 64 patients diagnosed with mCRC were randomized into a XELOX group (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 orally days 1–14, of each 21-day cycle) or a FOLFOX group (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, CF 200 mg/m2 intravenously days 1–5, 5-FU 300 mg/m2 intravenously days 1–5, of each 21-day cycle).33 The XELOX group appeared to have a significantly higher ORR (62.5% vs 34.4%) and grade 3–4 toxicities, including nausea and vomiting (31.1% vs 3.1%) and neuronsensory toxicity (9.4% vs 0%), than the FOLFOX group. While most studies showed similar ORR and PFS or OS, there was significantly more grade 3–4 HFS in XELOX than FOLFOX.34–36

The efficacy and toxicity of XELIRI in mCRC was evaluated by a Phase II dual-center clinical trial.37 Forty-three patients were enrolled between 2004 and 2005 in Hong Kong. Camptothecin-11 was administered intravenously at a dose of 180 mg/m2 on day 1 and capecitabine was given orally at a dose of 850 mg/m2 twice daily for 5 days, followed by 2 days of rest every 7 days in a 14-day cycle. The ORR was 51.4% and the SD rate was 27%. The median OS was 15.4 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 75.3%. The most common grade 3 toxicities were neutropenia (5.4%), diarrhea (8.1%), and HFS (2.7%). Yu and Wu treated 43 patients with mCRC with first-line XELIRI or FOLFIRI.38 XELIRI tended to have a much higher ORR (51.9% vs 31.3%), TTP (12.5 vs 8.4 months), and OS (17.9 vs 14.2 months) than FOLFIRI.38 In two Phase II studies, Chinese patients appeared to tolerate XELIRI well, with low incidence of grade 3–4 adverse effects. No drug-related death was reported in Chinese patients. The variances in tolerability of irinotecan between Chinese and Caucasians may probably be due to UGT1A1 genotype differences. The frequency of UGT1A1*6 or UGT1A1*28 gene polymorphisms is much lower in Chinese than in Caucasians.39,40

In a Phase II clinical study, Liu and Zhang treated 112 Chinese patients with mCRC with first-line XELOX or XELIRI to compare efficacy and toxicities.41 No statistical differences were observed in ORR (27.1% vs 25%) or median PFS (6.2 vs 7.1 months) between the two groups. Grade 3–4 diarrhea appeared substantially more commonly in the XELIRI group (27.5% vs 2.1%, P=0.002). However, fewer patients treated with XELIRI developed grade 3–4 neurotoxicity than with XELOX (2.5% vs 22.9%, P=0.018).

Capecitabine has also been combined with monoclonal antibodies and other biological agents in Chinese patients with mCRC. XELOX and bevacizumab have been shown to exhibit higher response than XELOX. Lv and Feng investigated the efficacy and toxicity of bevacizumab (5 mg/kg, day 1, day 15) plus XELOX (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 intravenously day 1, plus capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 orally twice daily, days 1–14, every 21 days) on patients with mCRC.42 Fifty-three patients were randomized to receive either XELOX or XELOX plus bevacizumab. The patients treated with XELOX plus bevacizumab achieved remarkably higher complete response (CR; 15% vs 4%) and partial response (PR; 59% vs 38%) rates than XELOX alone. Median TTP was 7.3 months in the combination group, compared with 5.4 months in XELOX group. No significant difference of adverse effects was observed between the two groups. In a retrospective study, the effect of XELOX plus bevacizumab was compared to XELOX alone in CRC patients with potential resectable live metastasis.43 A total of 63 patients were divided into two groups to receive oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) and capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) with or without bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg). The XELOX plus bevacizumab group had a significantly higher curative (R0) resection rate (45% vs 19%) and ORR (61% vs 34%). Grade 3–4 adverse effects, including neutropenia and diarrhea, were comparable between the two groups.

A Phase II clinical trial for mCRC treated patients with first-line capecitabine and cetuximab.44 Forty elderly patients (>65 years) whose Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) had been tested were randomly separated into two groups to receive XELOX with or without cetuximab. Oxaliplatin (130 mg/m2) was administered intravenously on day 1, and capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2) was given orally twice a day, days 1–14, on a 3-week cycle. The treatment group, where all patients had wild-type KRAS, was given a loading dose of cetuximab 400 mg/m2 the first time, followed by 250 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 of each cycle. Compared with the control group, the treatment group had significantly higher ORR (12% vs 7%, P<0.05) and TTP (7.7 vs 5.4 months). Grade 1–2 skin rash was observed in 55% of the patients in the treatment group.

Endostatin, a carboxyl-terminal fragment digested from collagen XVIII, which exhibits inhibitive effects on endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and angiogenesis,45 was approved for non-small-cell lung cancer in the PRC.46 Fan et al evaluated the efficacy and safety of endostatin combined with XELIRI in patients with mCRC.47 Median PFS and OS were 6.2 months and 13.7 months, respectively, with an ORR of 46.4%. The most frequent grade 3–4 adverse effects were neutropenia (39.3%), anemia (35.7%), stomatitis (14.3%), thrombocytopenia (17.9%), and diarrhea (10.7%).

Thalidomide, a sedative and anti-inflammatory drug used in immunotherapy, has been recently explored as an antineoplastic agent, possibly due to its dual effect on immunomodulation and inhibition of angiogenesis.48–50 Zhou et al reported that a combination of oral capecitabine (1,250/m2 twice daily, days 1–14) with oral thalidomide (100 mg, days 1–21) in mCRC patients led to a high response rate (CR 8.33%, PR 38.88%) and SD rate (30.56%).51 The regimen was well tolerated with all grade toxicities, including neurotoxicity (58.33%), constipation (52.77%), and HFS (44.44%). Chen and Lou further investigated the effect of combined thalidomide (200 mg daily, days 1–10) with XELOX (infusional oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 day 1, oral capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 twice a day, days 1–14) in mCRC.52 A total of 4.75% of patients achieved CR, 47.62% PR, 23.81% SD, and 23.81% PD. The median TTP and OS were 7.2 and 13.6 months, respectively. Major adverse effects included neurotoxicity, leucopenia, and HFS. A randomized controlled Phase II trial was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of XELOX with thalidomide as first-line treatment of mCRC.53 Eighty-nine patients with mCRC were randomly divided into treatment group (thalidomide with XELOX) or control group (XELOX). The primary end point, PFS (5.6 vs 5.2 months, P=0.307), and one secondary end point, ORR (34.1% vs 26.7%, P=0.446), were similar between the two groups. However, another secondary endpoint, disease-control rate (DCR), significantly improved (63.6% vs 42.2%, P=0.043) in the treatment group. Patients treated with thalidomide experienced more grade 3–4 constipation (20.5% vs 4.4%, P=0.022), which did not result in treatment interruption. The rate of lethargy increased, but had no statistical significance (13.6% vs 4.4%, P=0.13).

The role of capecitabine as maintenance therapy after first-line or second-line treatment for mCRC has been investigated in three Phase II clinical trials. Li et al divided patients with mCRC who had achieved response from first-line chemotherapy into a capecitabine-maintenance group (1,000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1–14, every 21 days) and a nonmaintenance group.54 Patients in the maintenance group showed significantly longer TTP (9 vs 6.5 months) and OS (40.4 vs 21.5 months) than those in the nonmaintenance group. Yang et al treated 35 mCRC patients who received 5-FU-based first-line or second-line chemotherapy with capecitabine (1,000–1,250 mg/m2, days 1–14, every 3 weeks) as maintenance therapy.55 The total median PFS was 12.2 months, with 12.4 months for first-line and 11.6 months for second-line treatment. Only grade 3–4 HFS (12%) was observed. In another study mentioned previously, Li et al treated 124 mCRC patients with XELOX as first-line chemotherapy.32 Among the patients who achieved objective response or SD after six cycles of XELOX, 22 patients chose to continue oral capecitabine as maintenance therapy until disease progression. These patients had a significantly longer duration of disease control than those without maintenance (14 vs 9 months, P=0.041).

Several studies have combined capecitabine with Chinese herbal medicine or natural products. Ling and Zhao reported on a combination of oxaliplatin, capecitabine, and Coix seed oil (Zhejiang Kanglaite Pharmaceutical Co., Hanzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China) injection in mCRC.56 Sixty-four patients were treated by either XELOX with or without Kanglaite (10 g, days 1–14, every 2 weeks). The patients who were treated with Kanglaite showed significantly higher ORR (57.6% vs 33.3%, P=0.048), improved quality of life (P<0.01), and fewer adverse effects than the control group.

Capecitabine in second-line treatment or beyond for mCRC

Although a Phase II study from the MD Anderson Cancer Center showed that capecitabine achieved no response in patients with mCRC who had progressed on previous 5-FU therapy,57 a few Chinese studies have demonstrated efficacy of capecitabine in mCRC patients refractory to 5-FU (Table 2). In one study, 47 patients with mCRC who had been resistant to 5-FU were treated with capecitabine (1,250 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1–14, every 3 weeks):58 17% of patients who achieved response had a median TTP of 8.5 months, 44.7% of patients with SD had a median TTP of 4.8 months, and median OS of all patients was 10.4 months. Another study also confirmed the efficacy of capecitabine in mCRC patients who had become resistant to 5-FU.59 The median ORR and DCR were 18.8% and 65.7%, respectively; the median OS was 11 months.

Table 2.

Capecitabine in second-line treatment of Chinese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Study Evidence level Median age (years) n Line Treatment ORR DCR mTTP Median OS
Xie et al59 III 57 32 2nd Capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 bid D1–14/q3W 18.8% 65.7% 4.8 11.0
Yang et al58 III 58 47 2nd or later Capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 bid D1–14/q3W 17.0% 61.7% 8.5 10.4
Li and Deng61 III 50 39 2nd XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000–1,250 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 180 mg/m2 D1/q3W 38.5% 71.8% 7.7 NA
Xu62 III 54 21 2nd Weekly XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 60 mg/m2 D1, D8, D15/q3W 42.8% 80.9% 6.5 NA
Zhuang et al64 IIb 45 25 2nd XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 180 mg/m2 D1/q3W 32.0% 72% 6.2 15.2
57 20 Capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, endostatin 7.5 mg/m2 D1–14/q3W 55.0% 90.0% 10.6 16.1
Zhou et al60 IIb 59 38 2nd or later XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 100 mg/m2 D1/q3W 5.3% 55.3% 4.5 11.0
Geng et al74 IIb 57 38 2nd or later XELIRI: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, irinotecan 200 mg/m2 D1/q3W 7.9% 55.3% 4.0 11.0
Sun et al44 III 72 20 2nd or later XELOX + cetuximab: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2, C225 250 mg (loading dose 400)/m2 D1/q3W 21% 18% 7.7 NA
20 XELOX: capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 bid D1–14, oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 D1/q3W 7% 14% 5.4 NA
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Abbreviations: ORR, objective response rate; DCR, disease-control rate; bid, bis in die (twice daily); D, day(s); q3W, every three weeks; NA, not available; mTTP, median time to progression.

XELIRI as second-line treatment in mCRC patients who had been refractory to oxaliplatin was evaluated in several studies. Zhou et al reported that 38 patients with mCRC after failure of oxaliplatin were given capecitabine (1,000 g/m2 twice daily, days 1–14) and intravenous irinotecan (100 mg/m2, day 1, day 8) every 3 weeks.60 The ORR and DCR were 5.9% and 61.8%, respectively, and the median TTP and OS were 4.5 and 11 months, respectively. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events were leukopenia (10.5%), neutropenia (13.2%), nausea and vomiting (10.5%), and diarrhea (7.9%). In another study, 39 patients with mCRC who had progressed on oxaliplatin treatment received infusional irinotecan (180 mg/m2, day1) with oral capecitabine (1,000–1,250 mg/m2 twice a day, days 1–14, every 3 weeks).61 The ORR was 38.5%, with low grade 3–4 toxicities, including diarrhea (10.3%) and neutropenia (17.9%). Capecitabine (1,000 mg/m2 twice a day, days 1–14) with weekly irinotecan (60 mg/m2) also resulted in a high response (ORR =42.8%), a long median TTP (6.5 months), tolerable toxicities (grade 3–4 diarrhea [4.76%], and neutropenia [4.76%]).62

In eleven patients with mCRC, the combination of bevacizumab and capecitabine was evaluated.63 Bevacizumab was given at dosages of 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 15 mg/kg every 3 weeks. All patients received capecitabine 2,000 mg/m2 per day for 14 days. The DCR was 90.9%, with 5 PR, 5 SD. The PFS and OS were 4 months and 15 months, respectively. Only grade 1–2 hypertension (27.3%), proteinuria (36.4%), HFS (54.6%), diarrhea (27.3%), and neutropenia (18.2%) were observed.

The efficacy and safety of endostatin combined with capecitabine were also tested in patients with mCRC who had failed first-line chemotherapy. A retrospective study compared XELIRI with capecitabine plus endostatin as second-line chemotherapy for oxaliplatin-resistant patients with mCRC.64 When compared to XELIRI, capecitabine plus endostatin showed significantly higher ORR (55% vs 32%), longer TTP (10.6 months vs 6.2 months), and comparable OS (16.1 months vs 15.2 months). The incidences of neutropenia and diarrhea were higher in the XELIRI group than in the endostatin group (P<0.01).

A combination of gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2, day 1, day 8) with capecitabine (1,250 mg/m2 twice daily, days 1–14) or infusional 5-FU/LV (5-FU 500 mg/m2, days 1–5, LV 200 mg/m2, days 1–5) in patients with mCRC who had failed at least two standard chemotherapy regimens has also been investigated. The ORR and SD rate among 19 patients treated with capecitabine and gemcitabine were 9.4% and 25%, respectively. The only grade 3–4 adverse effect was neutropenia (3.1%). The authors concluded that the combination offers encouraging results and is well tolerated.

Capecitabine in senile patients

Wang and Zhang treated 25 elderly patients (≥60 years) with single-agent capecitabine 1,250 mg/m2 twice daily from day 1 to day 14 in 3-week cycles.65 Eight patients achieved PR, and seven maintained SD. The ORR and DCR were 32% and 60%, respectively. Major side effects included HFS (16%), nausea and vomiting (16%), diarrhea (12%), and anorexia (16%), most of which were minor. Zhao et al evaluated the combination of capecitabine and oxaliplatin as first-line treatment in 58 elderly patients (≥65 years) with mCRC.66 Oxaliplatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 130 mg/m2 on day 1, and capecitabine orally, 1,000 mg/m2 twice a day on days 1–14 every 3 weeks. Among the patients, the ORR was 48.28%, with three CR and 25 PR. The median OS was 15.8 months, and the median TTP was 8.1 months. Major toxicities, including HFS (43.1%), neural toxicity (46.6%), thrombocytopenia (37.9%), neutropenia (37.9%), and nausea and vomiting (44.8%) were mostly grade 1–2. The combination of capecitabine with oxaliplatin also showed encouraging results for senile patients with mCRC in several other studies.67,68

Cost-effectiveness

Compared with FOLFOX for first-line mCRC, XELOX appears to be cost-effective. In a retrospective cohort study from Hong Kong, total costs of drugs, outpatient visits, tests, and travel of 30 patients with mCRC treated with XELOX were compared with those treated with FOLFOX.69 XELOX provided superior cost-effectiveness compared with FOLFOX with respect to scheduled cost (US $2,046 vs US $2,152), unscheduled cost (US $240 vs US $421), and societal cost (US $2,292 vs US $4,915). The total cost for FOLFOX was 37% greater than that of XELOX. Wang et al evaluated the costs of XELOX and FOLFOX as first-line chemotherapy for mCRC.36 The mean chemotherapy costs were similar between the two regimens. However, the mean hospitalization times (7.3 vs 9.3 times) and days (55 vs 88.3 days) were significantly lower in patients treated with XELOX than those treated with FOLFOX.

Conclusion

Capecitabine has been used in mCRC in the PRC for nearly a decade now. Despite this, there is still a lack of randomized clinical trials comparing the effectiveness of capecitabine with infusional 5-FU in the Chinese population. Most Chinese studies were not randomized, and a large portion of them were retrospective analyses. Capecitabine displayed high efficacy in Chinese patients with mCRC whether it was used as a single drug or in combination therapy. Chinese patients appeared to tolerate higher doses of capecitabine and showed fewer adverse effects than Caucasians. However, the specific combination and dosage regimens of chemotherapy agents for Chinese are yet to be ascertained.70–74

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (30672408), the Guangzhou Bureau of Science and Technology (2006Z3-E0041), and the Sun Yat-sen University 985 Program Initiation Fund (China).

Footnotes

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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