Continuous 5-fluorouracil (5FU) infusion in carcinoma of the pancreas: a phase II study.
Sixteen patients with metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas were treated with continuous ambulatory 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) infusion (200-300 mg/m2/day) through a chronic indwelling central venous catheter. Twelve of sixteen patients (75%) had two or more sites of disease, and eleven of sixteen (69%) had liver metastases. Five patients had previous chemotherapy.


RESULTS
partial remission, 3/16 (19%); stable disease, 8/16 (50%); and progressive disease, 5/16 (31%). Improvement in ECOG performance status was observed in 2/3 responding and 6/8 stable disease patients, respectively. Toxicities included hand-foot syndrome, mucositis, diarrhea, and cerebellar ataxia, which required treatment interruption in 9/16 patients (56%). No myelosuppression or catheter related problems were seen. The authors conclude that continuous infusion 5FU is a potentially efficacious palliative therapy in the management of carcinoma of the pancreas.
Hansen
R
R
Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226.
Quebbeman
E
E
Ritch
P
P
Chitambar
C
C
Anderson
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005472:Fluorouracil