title: Intra-arterial perfusion therapy with 5-fluorouracil in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma and intractable pelvic pain.
abstract: In a phase-II trial, 18 patients with intractable pelvic and perineal pain caused by local recurrent and/or metastatic colorectal carcinoma resistant to combinations of analgesics, systemic cytostatic chemotherapy and/or radiation were treated with intra-arterial perfusion therapy using 15-30 mg 5-FU/kg body wt./day for 1-5 days. Of 18 patients, ten achieved complete pain relief for 3-32 weeks (mean, 15.7 weeks); after the perfusion therapy eight used less than 50% of the amount of analgesics required before treatment; one patient had only a minor response; two patients were treated unsuccessfully. Side effects were mild and controllable. One patient died subsequent to arterial embolism in the leg where the catheter was placed; pelvic perfusion therefore appears risky in patients with severe arteriosclerosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*
chemical_list: D005472:Fluorouracil