[A late phase II trial of l-leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal cancer. l-Leucovorin and 5-FU Study Group (Japan Western Group)].
A multicentral cooperative study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of l-Leucovorin (l-LV) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in advanced colorectal cancer. The administration schedule was a two-hour intravenous infusion of l-LV (250 mg/m2) and an intravenous bolus injection of 5-FU (600 mg/m2), given one hour after the beginning of the l-LV infusion. Sixty-four patients were treated weekly for six weeks followed by two-weeks rest, and then evaluated for response. Complete response and partial response were obtained in 21 patients (32.8%). The median survival time was 12.8 months. The most prominent side effects were anorexia (57.8%), nausea and vomiting (56.3%), diarrhea (48.4%) and myelosuppression such as leucopenia (54.7%), thrombocytopenia (18.8%) and decreased hemoglobin (40.6%). These side effects, however, were within permissible levels. Severe toxicity was prevented by discontinuance of the treatment. From the present study, l-LV and 5-FU combination therapy seems to be a very promising and useful treatment for patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma.
Konishi
K
K
Dept. of Surgery, Toyama Prefectural Central Hospital.
Yabushita
K
K
Taguchi
T
T
Ota
J
J
Takashima
S
S
Abe
T
T
Kikkawa
N
N
Yasutomi
M
M
Sowa
M
M
Maehara
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate
D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil