title: Phase III comparison of the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancer with bolus weekly 5-FU vs. methyl-CCNU plus bolus weekly 5-FU. A Southwest Oncology Group study.
abstract: In a randomized and stratified study, 294 patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer were treated either with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 400 mg/m2 weekly intravenously (i.v.) or 5-FU 400 mg/m2 i.v. weekly plus methyl-CCNU 175 mg/m2 orally (p.o.) every 6 weeks. The response rate in colorectal cancer with 5-FU was 9.5% while the two-drug treatment produced a response of 31.8% (p=.009). The  response in all gastrointestinal cancers to 5-FU was 10.6% as compared with29.3% for the combination (p=.012). All responses were partial. The two-drug regimen is more effective and more toxic than weekly 5-FU therapy.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006413:Hematopoietic System / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D012673:Semustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009607:Nitrosourea Compounds; D012673:Semustine; D005472:Fluorouracil