title: Comparison of oral ftorafur and intravenous 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced cancer of the stomach, colon or rectum.
abstract: In this prospective randomized study the effect of oral Ftorafur was compared with that of intravenous 5-fluorouracil in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach, colon or rectum. Forty-five patients were evaluable. The overall response rates were 26.9% in the 5-fluorouracil group, 26.7% in the Ftorafur group. The median duration of response was 6 months in both groups. Survival in the 5-fluorouracil group was slightly better than in the Ftorafur group, but the difference was not statistically significant. The myelosuppressive effect of 5-fluorouracil was significantly stronger than that of Ftorafur. Gastrointestinal side effects were more pronounced in the Ftorafur group, but the difference was not statistically significant.
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005641:Tegafur / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D005472:Fluorouracil