Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVES: PETACC-1 assessed if raltitrexed is non-inferior to 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in adjuvant stage III colon cancer. METHODS: Non-inferiority required both HR for RFS and OS<1.25 at 1-sided alpha=0.05. Patients (1921) were randomised to six cycles of 5-FU/LV (n=969) or eight cycles of raltitrexed (n=952). We report the final results in 993 eligible patients who started and completed the allocated treatment (489 5-FU/LV and n=504 Raltitrexed) of whom respectively 146 and 148 died, respectively. RESULTS: The trial closed prematurely when 17 (1.9%) raltitrexed-related deaths were reported. Haematological and gastrointestinal toxicities were more frequent with 5-FU/LV, liver toxicities with raltitrexed. Raltitrexed was stopped for toxicity in 13.2% and 5-FU/LV in 8.5%. Sixty-day mortality was 9% versus 7%. With 4.1 years median follow-up, the HR for RFS was 1.16 (90% CI 0.99-1.37) and that for OS was 1.01 (90% CI 0.84-1.23). CONCLUSION: The trial failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of raltitrexed. FUNDING: Free drugs and financial support from AstraZeneca.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ejca.2008.07.002

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Cancer

Publication Date

10/2008

Volume

44

Pages

2204 - 2211

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Colonic Neoplasms, Female, Fluorouracil, Humans, Leucovorin, Male, Middle Aged, Quinazolines, Survival Analysis, Thiophenes, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult