title: Fluorouracil continuous infusion plus alfa interferon plus oral folinic acid in advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: Several reports on fluorouracil (5-FU) and alfa interferon (IFN-alpha) combination therapy in patients with advanced colorectal cancer have been published. In our study high-dose continuous infusion 5-FU (60 mg/kg per 48 hours), oral folinic acid (FA) (8 x 90 mg during 5-FU), and IFN-alpha three times weekly were combined. Because the addition of IFN-alpha has not been tested before, and serious toxicity of 5-FU plus IFN-alpha therapy has been reported, the IFN-alpha dose was escalated from 3 to 10 million units (MU)/dose in the first 11 patients. Grade 3 toxicity was noted in four patients, and consisted mainly of oral mucositis. No grade 4 toxicity occurred. Three partial responses were noted. Preliminary results of a phase II study, in which all patients received IFN-alpha at 10 MU/dose, show grade 3 and 4 toxicities in 24% and 4% of patients, respectively. This compares favorably with other trials in which 5-FU and IFN-alpha was used without FA.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Punt
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: de Mulder
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Burghouts
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wagener
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil