A phase II study of carboplatin and CHIP in patients with metastatic colon carcinoma

Fifty-six patients were treated in each arm of a study comparing CHIP and carboplatin for the therapy of previously untreated metastatic colorectal carcinoma. There were one partial response (2%) with CHIP and two partial responses (4%) with carboplatin. Side effects were significantly more severe with CHIP than with carboplatin. The most common side effect for both drugs was vomiting followed by hematologic side effects. Sixteen percent of the patients receiving CHIP and 9% of those receiving carboplatin had life-threatening side effects. Neither drug offers significant activity in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.