title: Local and systemic toxicity of intra-hepatic-arterial 5-FU and high-dose or low-dose leucovorin for liver metastases of colorectal cancer.
abstract: In an ongoing prospective study 11 patients with unresectable liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma have been treated with hepatic-arterial infusion of 5-FU (1 g m-2) for 24 h on days 1 to 5 combined with a rapid infusion of high-dose leucovorin (100 mg m-2) (HD-regimen) or low-dose leucovorin (20 mg m-2) (LD-regimen) on days 1, 3 and 5. There was only mild local toxicity grade 1 and grade 2 in both regimen. Twenty-four cycles with high-dose leucovorin and 42 cycles with low-dose leucovorin showed a mild to moderate systemic toxicity, including haematological changes, stomatitis and diarrhoea. We did not see any grade 4 toxicity and no treatment-related fatalities occurred in this series. Eighty per cent reduction of leucovorin dosage leads to a significant decrease in grade 2 and grade 3 haematological and gastrointestinal toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Zurich Hospital, Switzerland.
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Klotz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weder
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Largiadèr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil