title: Treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients with 5-fluorouracil in combination with recombinant subcutaneous human interleukin-2 and alpha-interferon.
abstract: We treated 14 patients with progressive metastatic colorectal cancer, using a combination of subcutaneous recombinant human interleukin-2 (4.8 x 10(6) IU/m2 three times daily on days 1 and 22, and twice daily on days 2 and 23, followed by 2.4 x 10(6) IU/m2 twice daily on days 3-5, 8-12, 24-26, and on 5 consecutive days per week, starting day 29), recombinant human interferon-alpha 2a (5.0 x 10(6) U/m2 thrice weekly), and 5-fluorouracil (750 mg/m2 i.v. bolus on days 15-19, and at weekly intervals thereafter, with a 1-week off-therapy interval every 4 weeks). Therapy was continued until disease progression occurred. Four (29%) and 8 (57%) evaluable patients achieved partial remission and stable disease, respectively; median response duration was 5.9 months. Toxicity of this regimen was moderate; the most common side effects were thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, nausea/vomiting, anorexia, malaise and fevers in all patients, along with diarrhea (63%) and mucositis (54%). Less than 10% of patients developed WHO grade IV toxicity; no toxic deaths occurred. Efficacy of this combination was not substantially different from alternative 5-fluorouracil-based regimens.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Oncology, MHH University Medical Center, Hannover, FRG.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atzpodien
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hänninen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menzel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deckert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schomburg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Poliwoda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005472:Fluorouracil