title: Biological modification of protracted infusion of 5-fluorouracil with weekly leucovorin. A dose seeking clinical trial for patients with disseminated gastrointestinal cancers.
abstract: A clinical trial was designed to find the maximally tolerated dose of weekly leucovorin (LV) that could be combined with 4 weeks of protracted infusion (PI) of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) at a fixed dose of 200 mg/m2. A total of 36 patients with disseminated gastrointestinal malignancies were treated; 9 either progressed or died before receiving 4 weeks of treatment leaving 27 patients evaluable for toxicity and response. 5FU was given as a protracted infusion using an ambulatory infusion pump and indwelling venous access. LV doses included 20, 25, 50, and 75 mg/m2 given as an i.v. push at the time of weekly pump fill with 5FU. In all, 72% of the patients tolerated LV at 20 mg/m2 for 4 continuous weeks, whereas the higher doses required treatment rests prior to 4 weeks. The dose-limiting toxicity at all doses was stomatitis. No significant myelosuppression was seen; diarrhea was infrequent. Overall, 40% of the patients with measurable cancer had partial responses. In view of evidence of biologic and therapeutic effects of these weekly doses of 20 mg/m2 LV with 200 mg/m2 5FU per day given as a protracted infusion over 4 weeks, phase II trials and multimodality studies for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies are being initiated at our institution using this dose and schedule.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Leichman
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leichman
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Spears
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muggia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jeffers
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Waugh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil