title: A phase II study of regional 5-fluorouracil infusion with intravenous folinic acid for colorectal liver metastases.
abstract: Regional chemotherapy, delivered via the hepatic artery, may significantly increase tumour response rates in patients with colorectal liver metastases. However, survival is limited by extrahepatic disease progression. We have developed a novel therapeutic approach for patients with metastases confined to the liver. In order to achieve high local response rates and also inhibit extrahepatic progression, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was infused intra-arterially at a dose previously calculated to achieve both high-dose regional therapy and adequate systemic levels. To enhance efficacy further, 5-FU was combined with high-dose systemic folinic acid (FA). Thirty-one patients were evaluated in a phase II study. 5-FU (1.5 g m2) was infused via a surgically implanted hepatic artery catheter over a 24 h period; FA (total 400 mg m-2) was infused intravenously during the initial and final 2 h. Treatments were given weekly for cycles of 6 weeks' duration. To date, median duration of treatment is 6 months and the median follow-up period is 17 months. The overall response rate was 48% with two complete and 13 partial responses. Predicted median time to progression is 8 months. The site of first progression was hepatic in 10 (42%) and extrahepatic in 14 (58%) patients. Seven patients developed local complications; one required emergency surgery. Side-effects were limited to grade 3 toxicity (four patients) or less. Predicted median survival is 19 months. This approach, which is associated with a high response rate and low systemic toxicity, warrants further evaluation. A phase III study is planned.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Gorman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: McArdle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil