Synergistic combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil, vitamin A, and cobalt-60 radiation for head and neck tumors--antitumor combination therapy with vitamin A.
Using cultured transformed fibroblasts, an antitumor agent, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), was found to be potentiated in its inhibitory action on RNA formation by vitamin A. 5-FU in combination with vitamin A enhanced more effectively the cellular sensitivity to irradiation than when 5-FU was used alone. So we have applied a triple combination of 5-FU, vitamin A, and cobalt-60 radiation (FAR therapy) to clinical treatment of head and neck tumors since 1972. The treatment of 192 patients with cancer of the larynx, 60 patients with hypopharyngeal and cervical esophageal cancer, and 23 patients with epipharyngeal cancer with FAR therapy during 6 years from 1972 to 1977 resulted in highly effective synergism, and the improved points of this therapy were considered.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes; D014801:Vitamin A; D005472:Fluorouracil