Chemotherapy with dacarbazine and 5-fluorouracil in advanced medullary thyroid cancer.
BACKGROUND
Experience with chemotherapeutic agents in the management of advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is limited and controversial. However, since MTC is a neuroendocrine neoplasm, we considered the possibility that cytotoxic drugs previously used in the treatment of these tumours could also have activity in MTC.


METHODS
Five patients (4 females and 1 male, aged 22-71 years) with locally advanced or metastatic MTC received 5 day intravenous courses of dacarbazine (DTIC) (250 mg/sqm) and 12 hour infusion 5-fluorouracil (450 mg/sqm), given every 4 weeks. Six cycles were administered to 4 patients and four to 1 patient.


RESULTS
Three partial responses lasting 9, 10+ and 8+ months were observed; one patient had stable disease and one progressive disease. Toxicity was acceptable with grade I thrombocytopenia and grade II leukopenia occurring in one patient, and grade II nausea and vomiting in four patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, treatment of advanced thyroid carcinoma with DTIC and 5-FU appeared to have significant activity and was well tolerated.
Orlandi
F
F
Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology, University of Torino, Italy.
Caraci
P
P
Berruti
A
A
Puligheddu
B
B
Pivano
G
G
Dogliotti
L
L
Angeli
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003606:Dacarbazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D003606:Dacarbazine; D005472:Fluorouracil