title: Pilot study of PALA and 5-FU in patients with advanced cancer.
abstract: A pilot study was carried out among 21 patients with advanced solid tumors to establish appropriate dose levels of PALA and 5-FU given on a 5-day schedule to produce definite but tolerable clinical toxicity. While dermatitis, diarrhea, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were observed, stomatitis was the dose-limiting side effect. The recommended initial dose levels for further clinical trials are 625 mg/m2 of PALA daily x 5 and 250-300 mg/m2 of 5-FU daily x 5, with courses repeated at 4-week intervals. Studies were also conducted to establish the time course of anticipated increased incorporation of 5-FU into cellular RNA following treatment with PALA. In murine P388 leukemia, PALA increased tritiated 5-FU incorporation by as much as 70%, the effect being maximal within 1 hour and maintained up to 25 hours. It was not possible to demonstrate increased tritiated 5-FU uptake into normal human leukocyte RNA from patients receiving combination chemotherapy with PALA and 5-FU, perhaps because of low rates of RNA synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C013195:sparfosic acid; D010746:Phosphonoacetic Acid; D005472:Fluorouracil