BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of capecitabine (CAP) given 
every other week and biweekly oxaliplatin (OX; modified CAPOX regimen) in 
patients with advanced colorectal cancer previously treated with irinote- 
can-based frontline chemotherapy.
METHODS: Sixty-seven patients were enrolled; the median age was 62 years and 62 
(92.5%) had a performance status (ECOG) of 0-1. OX and CAP were administered at 
the dose of 100 mg/m(2) on day 1 and 2,000 mg/m(2) on days 1-7, respectively, 
every 2 weeks.
RESULTS: A total of 429 treatment cycles were administered. Grade 3/4 
neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed in 4 (6%) and 2 (3%) patients, 
respectively. Febrile neutropenia complicated 1 treatment cycle. The main 
nonhematologic toxicities were grade 2/3 peripheral sensory neurotoxicity (10% 
of patients) and grade 3/4 diarrhea (7%). In an intention-to-treat analysis, 3 
(4.5%) complete and 13 (19.4%) partial responses (overall response rate 24%) 
were observed. Seventeen (24.5%) patients had stable and 27 (40.3%) progressive 
disease. The median time to tumor progression and overall survival were 5 months 
and 11.3 months, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the modified CAPOX regimen is safe and 
effective as salvage treatment in patients with advanced colorectal cancer who 
were previously treated with irinotecan-based frontline therapy.