We conducted a Phase I/II study of combination therapy using CPT-11 and S-1 as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The 28-day treatment cycle consisted of S-1 administered orally from day 1 to 21 and CPT-11 administered intravenously on days 1 and 15. In the Phase I portion, the dose of S-1 was fixed at 80 mg/m2/day, while CPT-11 was administered at a starting dose of 60 mg/m2 then stepped up in 20 mg/m2 increments. The maximum-tolerated dose was achieved at 80 mg/m2 of CPT-11, and the recommended dose was determined to be 60 mg/m2 of CPT-11. In the Phase II portion, this therapy exhibited a response rate of 58%, a median progression-free survival of 8.4 months, and a median overall survival of 18.7 months. Toxicity was generally mild and manageable. No patient showed grade 4 toxicity, and grade 3 toxicity was observed in only 18% of patients. The most frequently observed grade 3 toxicity was diarrhea, at a rate of 6%. The mean relative dose intensity of CPT-11 and S-1 was as high as 98 and 97%, respectively. In conclusion, combination therapy with CPT-11 and S-1 according to our treatment schedule is effective, safe and highly feasible for metastatic colorectal cancer patients. These data suggest that assessing this combination therapy in a Phase III study would be worthwhile.

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