title: A phase II study of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in advanced carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: Thirty-five patients with advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) 425 mg/m2 and leucovorin 20 mg/m2, day 1-5 every 28 days. Six patients had a partial response (95% confidence limit, 7-35%) with a median response duration of 32 weeks. The median survival time of the patients on study was 14 weeks. The toxicity was acceptable, with only two patients experiencing severe hematologic toxicity and one patient experiencing severe nausea and vomiting. The addition of leucovorin at this dose level in this population of patients with advanced disease does not appear to enhance the activity of 5-FU for patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus. Since only a small percentage of patients experienced significant toxicity, a higher response rate could be achieved in patients treated with the maximally tolerated dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Alberts
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schoeman
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greef
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Falkson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil