Abstract: Introduction: Irinotecan is a second-line chemotherapy for colorectal carcinoma. The most frequent irinotecan toxicity is severe diarrhea and suppression of the immune system (neutropenia). Other side effects include nausea, hyperbilirubinemia, fatigue, emesis, fever, weight loss, alopecia, edema, dyspnoea and thromboembolism. Gastrointestinal related symptoms were the most common side effect following this chemotherapy regiment.
Methods: This is a retrospective study which evaluated 10 patients with resectable stage III colorectal adeno carsinoma from January till December 2017, whose given adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFIRI regiments. Data were taken from medical records during chemotherapy period for six months. Any gastrointestinal related symptoms during this period would be reported as Irrinotecan related side effects, and patients that could not completed the chemotherapy cycle will be excluded.
Results: There were 10 patients included in this study, consisting of 6 male and 4 women. Patients age ranged from 32 to 65 years with an average of 51.6 years. Of the total patients, 5 patients had left sided colon adeno carcinoma, 3 patients with rectal carcinoma, 1 patient with sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma, and 1 patient with caecum carcinoma. All of the patients had post-chemotherapy complaints, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea which could be tolerated well conservatively. 2 patients were excluded during this period because the symptoms can not be tolerated well and chemotherapy was interupted.
Conclusion: Gastrointestinal related symptoms following FOLFIRI chemotherapy were common, the routine use as chemotherapy regiment should be evaluated later.
