The use of simultaneous radiotherapy and 5-flurouracil in patients with inoperable squamous cell lung cancer.
Over a 2-year period, 17 patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma of the bronchus, assessed as inoperable or incurable on surgical or medical grounds, were treated with palliative radiotherapy and a concurrent 120-h infusion of 5-flurouracil, at a dosage of 1 g/day. The treatment was found to be well tolerated with no major toxicity. The degree of palliation and survival obtained was found to be no different to that of a historical matched control group, treated with radiotherapy alone, with median survival in the two groups of 35 weeks and 42 weeks respectively (log rank test P greater than 0.69). We conclude that although a non-toxic treatment regime, no benefit was obtained by the addition of 5-flurouracil to palliative radiotherapy.
Kelly
S A
SA
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Cookridge Hospital, Leeds, UK.
MacLeod
P M
PM
Ash
D V
DV
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods
D005472:Fluorouracil