Oral fluoropyrimidines work just as well as IV fluoropyrimidines for colorectal cancer, according to a Cochrane review of 44 trials involving more than 23,000 individuals.

In patients given curative therapy:

• Disease-free and overall survival did not differ between those receiving either oral or IV therapy.
• Patients who received either treatment had a similar risk of diarrhea.
• Those who received oral treatment were more likely to develop hand and foot rash.
• They were less likely to have neutropenia.

In those who received palliative chemotherapy:

• Overall, oral treatment led to worse progression-free survival.
• Use of 2 oral therapy formulations (UFT or Ftorafur, and eniluracil with oral 5-fluorouracil) also led to worse progression-free survival.
• 3 other oral therapy formulations (capecitabine, S-1, and doxifluridine) produced progression-free survival similar to IV treatment.
• Overall survival rates did not differ.
• Patients who received oral treatment were more likely to develop diarrhea and hand and foot rash.
• They were less likely to have lowered white cell counts.