Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil infusion for metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Differences in survival in two patient groups with similar response rates.

Because of reported synergism between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) in L1210 leukemic mice and activity of this combination in clinical studies, a trial was initiated in previously untreated patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. Cisplatin at 20 mg/m2 and 5-FU as a continuous infusion at 1000 mg/m2 were both administered for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks. Forty-one patients were treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and 46 were treated by the Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) physicians.