title: Sequential high dose methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid does not improve response rates in advanced colorectal cancer.
abstract: 27 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated in a phase-II trial with high dose sequential methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and folinic acid (FA). Following a 4 h infusion of 800 mg/m2 MTX and a 4 h interval, 1,500 mg/m2 5-FU and 200 mg/m2 FA were given as a 24 h infusion. Out of 23 evaluable patients we observed one partial remission and 9 disease stabilizations. Median survival time of all patients was 10.4 months. Overall toxicity was low. In comparison to a previous trial we did not observe better treatment results by adding high dose FA to a sequential MTX/5-FU schedule.
authors.affiliation: Onkologisches Zentrum, Klinikum Mannheim, Fakultät für Klinische Medizin Mannheim, Universität Heidelberg.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Heim
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flechtner
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Worst
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Queisser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate