INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of home-based chemotherapy and to compare chemotherapy given at home with chemotherapy given as an outpatient treatment in relation to toxicity, quality of life and patient's preference.

METHODS: Patients who had undergone radical surgery for colon cancer and who were eligible to receive adjuvant treatment with capecitabine and oxaliplatin could be included. To ensure patient safety, the first infusion was given at an outpatient clinic. Patients with adverse events graded ≤ 2 on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0 were randomised to either group A continuing with four treatments at home followed by three in an outpatient clinic, or to group B continuing with three treatments in an outpatient clinic followed by four at home. To assess quality of life, the EuroQol-5 Domain was used at baseline and before each treatment. Preference cards were used at baseline and at end of treatment.

RESULTS: A total of 51 patients were included between 2007 and 2010. Forty-two patients continued in either group A or B. The nurse found that the treatment was safe and acceptable in all cases. In 145 cycles (99.3%), patients answered that they felt secure; only one patient answered: "Do not know". The highest-ranking preferences for patients were transportation time followed by waiting time.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that home-based chemotherapy is feasible and safe and that it might be a valuable alternative to treatment at an outpatient clinic.

FUNDING: This study was supported by a grant from Roche.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.