title: Phase II study of weekly high dose fluorouracil in previously treated patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, toxicity, and safety of outpatient chemotherapy with weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil (HD-5FU) in previously treated patients (pts) with metastatic colorectal cancer. Previously treated and failed pts with histologically confirmed, measurable metastatic colorectal cancer, performance status (WHO) 0-2 and adequate bone marrow function were eligible for treatment. Patients received 5FU (2.6 g/m2) as a 24-hour continuous infusion. Treatment was repeated weekly. A total of 202 cycles were given. Eighteen pts were enrolled. No pts achieved objective response. In 6 pts (33%), after 4 weeks of treatments, CEA level decreased 25% or more, and after 8 weekly treatments it rose again. Mild myelosuppression rarely occurred. Grade I nausea and vomiting occurred in 2 pts and Grade I diarrhea occurred in 2 pts. Mucositis was not observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience single agent, weekly, high dose 5-FU is well tolerated, but is ineffective as second-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer, and has only a marginal effect on CEA level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. wilmosh@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mermershtain
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lavrenkov
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil