Figure 1

Design of drug regimen. One cycle=8 weeks. In the first part of the regimen, patients were given MTX 200 mg m⁻² i.v. diluted in 500 ml of D₅W, infused in 1 h, days 1 and 15; oxaliplatin 85 mg m⁻² given i.v. as a 2-h infusion in 500 ml of D₅W followed by FU 600 mg m⁻² i.v. bolus, days 2 and 16 along with LV rescue (15 mg) given p.o. q 6 h × 6 doses. In the second part of the cycle, patients were given FU 200 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ CI × 3 weeks (from day 29 to 50), modulated by weekly LV (20 mg m⁻² i.v. bolus). After 1 week of rest, the second cycle was started on day 57.