Introduction: Capecitabine (Xeloda) is an orally administered fluoropyrimidine that is inactive until converted to fluorouracil within the tumour.  The aim of this research was to determine whether there is any significant difference in gastrointestinal toxicity between metastatic breast cancer and metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with capecitabine

Methods: A retrospective clinical review was conducted of 82 patients (47 colorectal cancer, 35 breast cancer) treated with capecitabine monotherapy over a 5 year period

Results: Severe (grade 3 or 4) diarrhoea occurred in 15% of colorectal cancer patients compared to 3% of breast cancer patients (p=0.06).  Similarly, oral mucositis was reported in 17% of colorectal cancer patients and 3% of breast cancer patients (p=0.04). 46% of colorectal cancer patients who had a surgical resection prior to chemotherapy experienceddiarrhoea  compared to 10% of those who did not (p=0.027)

Conclusion: Capecitabine induced oral mucositis occurred in significantly more colorectal cancer patients than breast cancer patients.  They also experienced severe diarrhoea more often; however this result was not statistically significant as the study was underpowered. Colorectal cancer patients who had a surgical bowel resection prior to treatment experienced significantly more diarrhoea compared to those who did not