Phase II trial of a combination of cyclosphamide, vincristine, and methotrexate in advanced colorectal carcinoma.

Twenty patients with advanced colon cancer were treated with a combination of low-dose weekly cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and methotrexate (COM) after demonstrated progression of disease with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Four patients (20%) had partial responses with a median survival of 15 months, six (30%) had disease stabilization for 3--16 months (median survival, 8 months), and ten progressed with a median survival of 5.5 months. All four partial responses and five of six stabilizations occurred in patients with a performance status of 0 or 1. COM appeared well-tolerated and at least as effective as alternative secondary chemotherapy following 5-FU failure.