title: A randomized clinical trial with a weekly regimen of 5-fluorouracil with or without folinic acid in advanced gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas: a preliminary report.
abstract: Eighty patients with advanced gastrointestinal tumors (64% with colorectal cancer) entered a phase III prospective randomized study with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) vs 5-FU + folinic acid (FA) The treatment included 5-FU, 600 mg/m2/week for 6 weeks, given as i.v. bolus alone (arm A), or administered by rapid injection half-way through a one-hour infusion of FA, 200 mg/m2/week for 6 weeks (arm B). Partial remission (PR) was achieved in 1 out of 30 (3%) evaluable patients for 6 months in arm A, and in 10 out of 34 (29%) patients in arm B, with a median duration of 8 months (range 6-17) (comparison of the response rate: P = 0.005). In patients with colorectal cancer the response rate was 5% and 27% in arm A and in arm B respectively (P = 0.06). Two patients, who were resistant to 5-FU alone, achieved PR after treatment with 5-FU + FA. Diarrhea was observed in 14/42 patients (33%) in arm B (grade 1-2 in 10 and grade 3 in 4) and in 2/38 patients (5%) in arm A (P = 0.005). Other side effects such as nausea/vomiting, myelosuppression and stomatitis were infrequent and of mild intensity in both arms. No statistical difference in survival was detected when comparing the two groups (estimated median survival 8 months and 11 months for arm A and arm B respectively). These results seem to indicate that the weekly regimen of 5-FU + FA has a superior response rate compared to 5-FU alone, and that it is well tolerated. However, the advantage is not reflected in overall survival.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Oncologia, Ospedale Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cricca
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guaraldi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farris
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pannuti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil