Oxaliplatin Based Chemotherapy and Concomitant Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in the Treatment of 24 Patients with Colorectal Cancer and HIV Infection

Title: Oxaliplatin Based Chemotherapy and Concomitant Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in the Treatment of 24 Patients with Colorectal Cancer and HIV Infection

Volume: 8 Issue: 3

Author(s): Massimiliano Lanzafame, Umberto Tirelli, Lorenza Guella, Annalisa Ridolfo, Elisa Garlassi, Clara Schiantarelli, Rossella Fisichella, Salvatore Berretta, Francesco Basile, Guglielmo Nasti, Massimiliano Berretta, Immacolata Izzi, Vincenzo Montesarchio, Giuseppe Nunnari, Bruno Cacopardo, Renato Talamini, Michele Spina, Alessandra Bearz, Alessandro Cappellani and Arben Lleshi

Affiliation:

Keywords: Metastatic Colorectal Cancer, FOLFOX4, HIV-infection, HAART, chemotherapy, treatment

Abstract: Background: Although FOLFOX4 is considered the standard chemotherapy regimen for colorectal cancer (CRC), few data are available on its results in human immunodeficiency (HIV)-related CRC. The results were analyzed to evaluate feasibility and activity of FOLFOX4 plus highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in metastatic CRC (mCRC) HIV-seropositive patients. Patients and Methods: From January 2002 to March 2007, 24 patients were selected among the CRC HIV-seropositive patients treated with FOLFOX4 and concomitant HAART within the Italian Cooperative Group on AIDS and Tumors (GICAT). Results: Four median cycles of chemotherapy were administered; the most common severe toxicity was neutropenia (37.5%). An overall response rate of 50% was observed; 4.2% of patients achieved complete response and 45.8% partial response. No opportunistic infections occurred during or immediately after chemotherapy. The medi+ count was 380 (range 220-570) at diagnosis. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the largest study describing activity and tolerability of FOLFOX4 and HAART, in this setting. FOLFOX4 plus concomitant HAART resulted feasible and active also in HIV-seropositive patients. Moreover, the concomitant use of HAART did not seem to increase the FOLFOX4 toxicity. This study suggests the good tolerability of the FOLFOX4, making it a reasonable option for combination with HAART.

Cite this article as:

Lanzafame Massimiliano, Tirelli Umberto, Guella Lorenza, Ridolfo Annalisa, Garlassi Elisa, Schiantarelli Clara, Fisichella Rossella, Berretta Salvatore, Basile Francesco, Nasti Guglielmo, Berretta Massimiliano, Izzi Immacolata, Montesarchio Vincenzo, Nunnari Giuseppe, Cacopardo Bruno, Talamini Renato, Spina Michele, Bearz Alessandra, Cappellani Alessandro and Lleshi Arben, Oxaliplatin Based Chemotherapy and Concomitant Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in the Treatment of 24 Patients with Colorectal Cancer and HIV Infection, Current HIV Research 2010; 8 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157016210791111061