title: A novel weekday-on/weekend-off UFT schedule.
abstract: In a step toward a clinical trial, the tumor response and survival of a weekday-on/weekend-off schedule of UFT was compared with its conventional daily schedule in a cancer-bearing rat model. The dose-intensive schedule--600 mg of UFT for 5 days followed by 2 drug-free days--amounts to a weekly dose similar to the conventional schedule of 400 mg/day. The weekday-on/weekend-off schedule provided increased survival and significantly greater antitumor activity than the conventional daily schedule, with no difference in adverse reactions. A study was also conducted in human subjects to measure fluorouracil (5-FU) concentrations that identified the pharmacokinetic activity during the 2 drug-free days of the weekday-on/weekend-off schedule. The plasma 5-FU concentration declined markedly after 24 hours, but the concentration in the tumor remained at a relatively high level after 2 days off the drug. A one-year clinical study evaluated the compliance and toxicity of the weekday-on/weekend-off UFT schedule as adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer. Based on the findings of all these studies, the weekday-on/weekend-off schedule for UFT as adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer can be recommended for a clinical trial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadahiro
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishizu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajima
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000662:veterinary; D016019:Survival Analysis; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D005472:Fluorouracil