Interventions-Patients were allocated randomly to receive chemotherapy or only supportive care in a ratio of 2:1 according to performance status, metastatic disease of the liver, and weight loss in the six months before entering the study. Chemotherapy consisted of four week cycles of intravenous leucovorin (200 mg/m2/day) foliowed by 5-fluorouracil (550 mglm2l/day) and cisplatin (20 mglm2/day), each drug being given on the first four days ofthe cycle.Main outcome measures-Length of survival and quality of life score with an optimised functional living index-cancer scale.Results-Overall survival was significantly longer for patients given chemotherapy (11.0 months) than for those receiving supportive care alone (5 0 months; p=0006 Because of uncertainty about the true palliative benefit of combined regimens we conducted a randomised study of the effects of chemotherapy and supportive care on survival and quality of life of patients with colorectal cancer. The chemotherapeutic regimen chosen was a combination of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin with cisplatin. Cisplatin was included

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Objective Traditional surgical procedures for intractable idiopathic constipation are associated with a variable outcome and substantial morbidity. The symptomatic response, physiological effect and effect on quality of life of sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) were evaluated in patients with constipation (slow transit and normal transit with impaired evacuation). Methods In a prospective study at five European sites patients who failed conservative treatment underwent 21 days test stimulation. Patients with >50% improvement in symptoms underwent permanent neurostimulator implantation. Primary end points were increased defecation frequency, decreased straining and decreased sensation of incomplete evacuation.

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