title: 5-Fluorouracil infusion and low-dose weekly cisplatin: an analysis of increased toxicity.
abstract: It has been suggested that the addition of weekly low-dose cisplatin (DDP) may potentiate the efficacy of continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) without adding significant toxicity. To investigate the extent of added toxicity, an analysis of toxicity was completed in 18 patients with advanced cancers treated with continuous ambulatory 5-FU infusion 300 mg/m2/day and weekly low-dose cisplatin (DDP) 20 mg/m2. Ten of the 18 patients (56%) developed multiple (four or more) toxicities during treatment. In addition, toxicity categorized as severe occurred in 10 patients (56%). Seventeen of the 18 patients (94%) required treatment interruption or dose attenuation due to toxicity and most patients experienced a decline in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status due to treatment-related toxicity. Compared with historical toxicity patterns when 5-FU infusion is administered alone, the addition of DDP has resulted in significant increases in nausea and vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, stomatitis, and myelosuppression. The addition of low-dose weekly DDP adds significant toxicity and morbidity to the continuous 5-FU infusion regimen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeske
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Libnoch
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil