Menu Close Menu

Fewer cancers.
Better survival.
Equity for all.

Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy Regimen Library

CRC ACA - cISplatin and fluorouracil chemoradiation

Treatment Overview

Commence regimen in relation to radiation therapy as per institutional policy.

Cycle 1 - 42 days

Cycle length:
42

Cycle details

Cycle 1 - 42 days

Medication Dose Route Days Max Duration
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration 1 to 4,
29 to 32
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration 1, 29
aprepitant 80 mg oral administration 2, 3, 30,
31
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration 1, 29
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration 2, 3, 4,
30, 31, 32
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1, 29
magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 1, 29 60 minutes
cISplatin * 60 mg/m² intravenous 1, 29 60 minutes
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 1, 29 60 minutes
fluorouracil * 4000 mg/m² intravenous 1, 29 96 hours Min: 96 hours
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration 1, 29
cycliZINE 50 mg Three times daily oral administration 1
loperamide 2 mg oral administration 1

Full details

Cycle 1 - 42 days

Day: 1

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.

  • This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.
  • Some centres may choose to omit pre-chemotherapy dose or advise patient to take the night before chemotherapy if patient has to drive to appointment.
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy with food.

ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.

magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
In 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, prior to cISplatin infusion.
cISplatin * 60 mg/m² intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
  • In 500 - 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, depending on stability.
  • Ensure patient has passed urine as per institutional policy.
  • Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of cISplatin.
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 60 minutes
Quantity:1000 mL
Instructions:

After cISplatin infusion.

If cISplatin is infused in 1000 mL, centres may choose to omit this bag of fluid.

fluorouracil * 4000 mg/m² intravenous 96 hours Min: 96 hours
Instructions:
Continuous infusion via pump over 96 hours (equivalent to 1000mg/m²/day).
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

EIGHT hours after chemotherapy OR before bed.

cycliZINE 50 mg Three times daily oral administration
Instructions:

When required for nausea and/or vomiting.

  • Warning: may cause drowsiness.
  • Consider starting dose at 25 mg and increasing as tolerated/required.
  • The choice of rescue antiemetic may be substituted to reflect institutional policy or individual patient characteristics.
  • Note that domperidone is not recommended in combination with olanzapine and ondansetron due to potential risk of QT prolongation.
loperamide 2 mg oral administration
Instructions:
Take TWO capsules (=4 mg) at onset of loose bowel motions and a further ONE capsule (=2 mg) for every loose bowel motion (maximum of EIGHT capsules in 24 hours), or use as directed by oncologist or haematologist.

Day: 2

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 3

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 4

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 29

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.

  • This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.
  • Some centres may choose to omit pre-chemotherapy dose or advise patient to take the night before chemotherapy if patient has to drive to appointment.
aprepitant 125 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.
dexamethasone * 12 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy with food.

ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONE hour prior to chemotherapy.

magnesium sulfate heptahydrate 10 mmol intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
In 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, prior to cISplatin infusion.
cISplatin * 60 mg/m² intravenous 60 minutes
Instructions:
  • In 500 - 1000 mL of sodium chloride 0.9%, depending on stability.
  • Ensure patient has passed urine as per institutional policy.
  • Hypersensitivity risk increases with number of cycles of cISplatin.
sodium chloride 0.9 % intravenous 60 minutes
Quantity:1000 mL
Instructions:

After cISplatin infusion.

If cISplatin is infused in 1000 mL, centres may choose to omit this bag of fluid.

fluorouracil * 4000 mg/m² intravenous 96 hours Min: 96 hours
Instructions:
Continuous infusion via pump over 96 hours (equivalent to 1000mg/m²/day).
ondansetron 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

EIGHT hours after chemotherapy OR before bed.

Day: 30

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 31

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

aprepitant 80 mg oral administration
Instructions:
ONCE daily in the morning.
dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Day: 32

Medication Dose Route Max duration Details
olanzapine * 5 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily.

This medicine may make you sleepy and make it dangerous to drive or operate machinery. Limit alcohol intake.

dexamethasone * 8 mg oral administration
Instructions:

ONCE daily in the morning with food.

Dose and duration may be individualised at clinician’s discretion.

Supportive Care Factors

Factor Value
Diarrhoea risk: Anti-diarrhoeals are usually prescribed with this treatment
Emetogenicity: High
Hydration: Routine hydration recommended

* The medicines, doses, combinations, and schedule in this treatment regimen have been carefully reviewed against international best practice guidelines by specialists in medical oncology around New Zealand and this advice has been accepted for publication by Te Aho o Te Kahu (the Cancer Control Agency). Sometimes medicines that are used in routine clinical practice have not been through a formal review process by the NZ Medicines Regulator Medsafe and are therefore considered unapproved or off-label. These medicines are legally able to be prescribed through sections 25 and 29 of the Medicines Act and by obtaining informed consent from patients. All treatment regimens listed on this website have been through robust peer review and are considered an accepted standard of care, whether prescribed through sections 25 or 29 or carrying formal Medsafe Approval.

s29: This symbol indicates that some formulations of the associated medicine are legally only able to be prescribed under section 29 of the Medicines Act. You can see which formulations are section 29 by hovering over the s29 symbol. You can access full medication details from the New Zealand Formulary by clicking on the medication name. Each clinician retains full responsibility for ensuring they have complied with all relevant obligations and requirements of section 29 including obtaining informed patient consent prior to prescribing the applicable medicine.