title: Preoperative use of 5-fluorouracil suppository for carcinoma of the rectum.
abstract: A total of 50 patients with carcinoma of the rectum were treated with 5-fluorouracil suppository before operation. The suppository, which was made of Witepsol suppository base containing 5-fluorouracil, yielded high drug concentrations in carcinoma, draining blood and regional lymph nodes. As a clinical response to the suppository, a significant decrease in the size of tumor mass was noted in 8 of 50 carcinomas, but in other cases the gross change was unmeasurable. Thirty-three percent of the surgically resected carcinomas were histologically judged to have responded to the suppository. In such cases, histologic changes correlated well with the total dose of 5-fluorouracil. The adverse effects of the suppository were confined to anal pain, tenesmus and anal bleeding, probably due to the topical effect of 5-fluorouracil on the rectal mucosa.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000187:drug effects; D013488:Suppositories
chemical_list: D013488:Suppositories; D005472:Fluorouracil