Severe liver dysfunction and safe use of 5-fluorouracil leucovorin and oxaliplatin in one patient with metastatic colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

The liver is the most frequent site of metastases in colorectal cancer. Commonly used anticancer drugs in colorectal cancer are 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin have very few numbers of studies that support their safety in hepatic dysfunction, but pharmacokinetic studies of anticancer drugs focused on the single-agents; however, there is lack of data about drug combinations such as 5-fluorouracil leucovorin and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) and 5-fluorourocil, leucovorin and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimens. We demonstrated one patient with colorectal cancer and severe liver dysfunction secondary to hepatic metastases. Laboratory investigation on admission showed total bilirubin 22.5 mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 1137 IU/l, aspartate amino transferase 254 IU/l, alanine aminotransferase 164 IU/l and carcinoembryonic antigen levels 863 ng/ml. We initiated a 5-FU/oxaliplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Our data supports the safety and feasibility of FOLFOX regimen in patients with severe liver dysfunction secondary to liver metastases of colorectal cancer.