title: A phase II study of combined 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.
abstract: In a phase II study of 67 patients with upper gastrointestinal carcinomas and measurable disease without previous chemotherapy, we have evaluated the combination of intensive course 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (300 mg/m2/d for five days) doxorubicin (40 mg/m2 on day 1), and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1). Courses were repeated every 5 weeks. Among 26 patients with gastric carcinoma, a 50% regression rate was obtained with a median survival for all patients of 9 months. Among 29 patients with pancreatic carcinoma, the regression rate was 21% and the median survival was 4 months. Regressions were also observed in smaller numbers of patients with carcinomas of the gallbladder and ampulla of Vater, as well as in cholangiocellular carcinoma of the liver. Toxic reactions were usually clinically tolerable and consisted primarily of nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, diarrhea, leukopenia, and alopecia. Phase III studies are in progress to place the value of this experimental regimen into clinical perspective.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil