Major New Study Shows Xeloda After Surgery Significantly Increases The Number of Patients Free From Colon Cancer

New data from the X-ACT trial (Xeloda in Adjuvant Colon Cancer Therapy), presented today at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) demonstrates that Xeloda (capecitabine), a targeted oral chemotherapy, should replace the current standard therapy for colon cancer, intravenous 5-FU/LV, due to its superior efficacy and safety.

The study, conducted over the past 6 years and involving almost 2,000 patients at 164 centres worldwide, including 12 Australian cancer centres, was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Xeloda versus the global standard of care, bolus intravenous 5-FU/LV (also known as the Mayo Clinic regimen), in patients who recently have had colon cancer surgery. According to Associate Professor Joe McKendrick, X-ACT study author and Director of Oncology at Box Hill Hospital in Victoria, the study successfully met its primary endpoint of demonstrating at least equivalent disease free survival.In discussing the findings, Associate Professor McKendrick reinforced the importance of clinical research in improving cancer outcomes.’Capecitabine has now been conclusively shown to improve the outcome for patients with early colon cancer reducing side effects and offering a more acceptable mode of administration compared to previous standard therapies. This drug, in combination with other chemotherapies and targeted therapies, is currently being tested in clinical trials aimed at improving outcomes even further,’ he said.No unexpected toxicities were observed during the X-ACT trial. Patients receiving Xeloda experienced less diarrhoea, stomatitis, nausea and vomiting, hair loss and neutropenia than patients treated with intravenous 5-FU/LV. Only hand-foot syndrome (soreness of the skin) was more common with Xeloda; however this is a well known and relatively minor side effect when properly managed.Additionally, Xeloda was well tolerated, irrespective of the age of the patient. In contrast, older patients (over 65 years) who received 5-FU/LV experienced a higher incidence of early severe toxicities compared with younger patients.Colorectal cancer (commonly known as bowel cancer) is one of the most common cancers in developed countries. Australia has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world with approximately 11,300 new cases reported each year. It is estimated that 50% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer will die of the disease. In Australia, bowel cancer claims the lives of 90 people each week and 4,600 Australians each year.