title: Postoperative radiation therapy for rectal cancer combined with UFT/leucovorin.
abstract: Postoperative combined-modality therapy with fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation therapy is accepted practice for high-risk rectal cancer. Postoperative pelvic radiotherapy alone may improve pelvic control, but is not associated with an improvement in survival. Protracted infusional 5-FU has been associated with decreased tumor recurrence and improved survival when combined with postoperative adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy. The use of new drugs and alternative ways of administering 5-FU is desirable. UFT plus leucovorin is an oral 5-FU prodrug with efficacy equal to 5-FU plus leucovorin in metastatic colorectal cancer. A combination of postoperative adjuvant UFT plus leucovorin concurrent with radiation therapy should be feasible, and the design of an ongoing phase I trial is presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, USA. rosenthal@xrt.upenn.edu
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Haller
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saltz
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Semple
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Minsky
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin