title: Continuous venous infusion 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alpha in pancreatic carcinoma.
abstract: Chemotherapy treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer is universally disappointing. Evidence suggested the possibility of improved activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in this disease when administered by continuous infusion in combination with interferon-alpha. Thirteen patients who had histologically documented stage III and IV adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with 5-FU, 250 mg/m2/day by continuous infusion, in combination with interferon-alpha, 3 million units subcutaneously 3 times per week. Treatment was adjusted for toxicity and was continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or 8 weeks after a complete response. Responses were documented on two separate occasions that were separated by 4 weeks. Eleven men and two women were treated an average of 48 days. There was one responder, for a response rate of 7.7% (95% confidence interval, 0.1%-36%). The duration of response was 90 days. The median survival of the entire group was 8.3 months. Toxicity was significant, with more than 50% of patients requiring treatment breaks and dosage reductions. The most common toxicities were mucositis, hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, and nausea. There were no treatment-related deaths. Treatment of advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas with continuous-infusion 5-FU and interferon-alpha is associated with significant toxicity without significant evidence of response.
authors.affiliation: Lucille Parker Markey Cancer Center, Lexington, Kentucky 40536-0093, USA.
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: John
authors.forename: M Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Flett
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D005472:Fluorouracil