Temporary Suspension of Colorectal Cancer Trials Involving Irinotecan and the Saltz Regimen Announced

National Cancer Institute
Wednesday, 23 May 2001

In April 2001 two NCI-funded clinical trials of colorectal cancer were temporarily suspended because some patient deaths appeared to be related to treatment. The treatment used in both these trials is a standard multi-drug treatment known as the Saltz regimen, which is the most widely used combination of irinotecan, 5-flurouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in the United States. The two phase III trials, being carried out by two separate national cooperative groups of investigators, are examining important questions in optimizing the management of patients with colorectal cancer.

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