Emerging new therapeutic applications of capecitabine as a first-line chemotherapeutic agent in the management of advanced carcinomas other than colorectal carcinoma

Shailendra Kapoor

Richmond, VA, USA

I read with great interest the recent article by Hameed et al in a recent issue of your journal.¹ The article is very interesting. Interestingly, the past few years have seen the emergence of capecitabine as a highly potent first-line chemotherapeutic agent against advanced systemic carcinomas other than colorectal carcinoma.

For instance, capecitabine has recently been used successfully as a first-line monotherapeutic agent for HER-2-negative metastatic breast cancer.² Cotherapy with agents such as sorafenib and paclitaxel for HER-2-negative metastatic breast cancer has also been recently used first-line, and significantly improves progressionfree survival, in addition to being very safe.^3,4 Similarly, in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma, capecitabine has been used successfully as first-line therapy in combination with agents such as cisplatin.⁵ The XELOX regimen comprising capecitabine in conjunction with oxaliplatin is another recent highly effective alternative for gastric carcinoma.⁶ The modified XELIRI regimen compromising capecitabine and irinotecan is a further option for advanced and unresectable gastric carcinoma.⁷

View original paper by Hameed and colleagues.