title: Combined irradiation and three-drug chemotherapy in inoperable colorectal carcinoma.
abstract: Forty patients with inoperable or not radically resected tumours in the rectum or rectosigmoideum were treated with irradiation combined with 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and cyclophosphamide. The acute toxicity was moderate, but 3 patients developed late complications such as fibrosis and fistulation in the irradiated area. Twenty-one patients had a measurable tumour within the radiation fields and were included in the evaluation of the tumour response. Of these patients 8 achieved complete and 5 partial tumour remission. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that this treatment cannot be recommended because of severe complications observed in a following randomized series of patients receiving irradiation combined with 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012811:Sigmoid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate