title: Combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil and methyl-CCNU for the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer.
abstract: Sixteen patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer (colorectal 12/16, gastric 4/16) were treated with a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus 1-(2-chlorethyl)-3(4-methyl-cycloexyl)-1-nitrosourea (Me-CCNU). The therapeutic program consisted of orally administered Me-CCNU (140 mg/m2) and intravenous 5-FU (9.5 mg/kg by bolus injection for 5 days). The cycles were repeated at 6-week intervals. At the beginning of the therapy, 11/16 patients were in performance status (PS) 0-1 and 5 patients in PS 2-3. Eight patients developed early progressive disease between the 1st and 2nd course of therapy. Only a minor tumor response was observed in the remaining 50% of the patients. However, the patients with stabilized disease lived longer (11.8 months) than non-responders (3.5 months).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D012673:Semustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D012673:Semustine; D005472:Fluorouracil