5-Fluorouracil and high-dose folinic acid as second-line chemotherapy in head and neck cancer.
Experimental and clinical data support the concomitant use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and high-dose folinic acid (HDFA). To verify the role of such a combination in far advanced head and neck cancer, we performed a phase II study employing weekly HDFA, 500 mg/m2 in 2-h infusions, and 5-FU, 600 mg/m2 bolus injection. Twenty-seven evaluable patients with recurrent disease entered the study. One complete response, seven partial responses, 10 stable disease, and nine progressions were observed: the overall response rate was 29.6%. Oral mucositis and diarrhea were major side effects; five patients discontinued the treatment due to toxicity; no deaths correlated to the treatment were detected. Considering the characteristics of our patients, the 5-FU/HDFA combination has shown a satisfactory antitumoral activity, but toxicity was similar to other chemotherapy regimens.
Merlano
M
M
Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italia.
Bacigalupo
A
A
Benasso
M
M
Grimaldi
A
A
Toma
S
S
Benedetti
G
G
Comella
G
G
Cacace
F
F
Rosso
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D012074:Remission Induction
D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil