S-1 plus irinotecan and oxaliplatin for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a prospective phase II study and pharmacogenetic analysis

BACKGROUND: S-1 is an oral fluoropyrimidine that mimics infusional 5-fluorouracil. The aim of this phase II trial was to explore the clinical efficacy of the triplet regimen TIROX, which consists of S-1, irinotecan and oxaliplatin. METHODS: Forty-two chemo-naive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) were planned to be enrolled and be treated with irinotecan 150 mg m(−2) followed by oxaliplatin 85 mg m(−2) on day 1 and S-1 80 mg m(−2) per day from day 1 to 14 every 3 weeks. Polymorphisms in the UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A7 and CYP2A6 genes were analysed. RESULTS: Between July 2007 and February 2008, 43 patients were enrolled. An objective response was noted in 29 patients (67.4%, 95% confidence interval: 53.4–81.4), of which 2 achieved durable complete responses. The median progression-free survival was 10.0 months and the median overall survival was 19.2 months. Significant grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia (45.2%), febrile neutropenia (9.5%), diarrhoea (7.1%) and vomiting (9.5%). Increased gastrointestinal toxicities were associated with the presence of UGT1A6*2 or UGT1A7*3 and an improved tumour response was noted in those without variant alleles of CYP2A6 or UGT1A1*60. CONCLUSION: The combination of S-1, irinotecan and oxaliplatin showed favourable efficacy and tolerability in untreated patients with mCRC.