title: 5-Fluorouracil by protracted venous infusion: a review of recent clinical studies.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil make it an ideal drug to administer as a protracted infusion (continuous infusion more than 30 days). During the last decade numerous clinical studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) administered as a protracted venous infusion. Phase II studies in metastatic colorectal cancer in 345 patients have demonstrated an average response rate of 36% (range 15-59%) and a prospective randomized study performed by the Mid-Atlantic Oncology Program (MAOP) has confirmed a higher response rate with 5FU infusion compared with a bolus schedule. Phase II studies in refractory carcinoma of the breast in 177 patients have demonstrated a 30% response rate (range 17-50%); studies in pancreatic, gastric, and refractory prostate cancer have also demonstrated clinical utility. The major toxicities of 5FU infusion are mucositis and hand-foot syndrome; life-threatening myelosuppression is rare and treatment-related deaths have not been reported. 5FU infusion is a useful palliative treatment for many adult patients with advanced malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil