Evaluation of beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine combined with methyl-CCNU or mitomycin in advanced colorectal cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study.

Two hundred twenty eligible patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were treated with a combination of beta-2'-deoxythioguanosine (BTG), plus methyl-CCNU or mitomycin. There was no significant difference in overall response (CR/PR + stable) among fully evaluable patients between the mitomycin plus BTG arm 19/96 (19.7%) and the MeCCNU arm 26/87 (29.8%). Median survival of eligible patients was 19 weeks with mitomycin plus BTG versus 21 weeks with MeCCNU plus BTG: no difference. Median survival of responders (40 weeks) and patients with stable disease (35 weeks) was significantly better than patients with increasing disease (17 weeks): p + 0.001.