title: Continuous 24-hour infusion of folinic acid does not increase the response rate of 5-fluorouracil but only the toxicity.
abstract: Twenty-four patients with advanced colorectal cancer received two cycles of combination chemotherapy consisting of mitomycin 10 mg/m2 for 5 days continuous infusion and allopurinol 300 mg x 3/day p.o. for 21 days. Two patients responded partially following the two cycles of chemotherapy. Additionally, all patients received folinic acid 200 mg/m2 for 5 days as a continuous infusion. None of the nonresponders responded to the addition of folinic acid, on the contrary toxicity was increased and 2 toxic deaths were reported. We conclude that continuous infusion of folinic acid added to the combination of mitomycin and 5-fluorouracil does not improve the response rate but only enhances toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Medical Oncology, Metaxa Cancer Hospital, Piraeus, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsavaris
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tzannou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karvounis
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin; D000493:Allopurinol; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil