title: Monthly 5-days 5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin for adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer.
abstract: We investigated the dose-related effect of the 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin regimen on survival in 139 colon cancer patients with Dukes' B2 and C2 stage disease. Chemotherapy consisted of 400 mg/m(2) of 5-FU and 20 mg/m(2) of leucovorin injected daily for 5 days in every 4 weeks for a maximum of 12 cycles. The total dose of 5-FU administered per body surface area had a significant effect on the 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival in stage B2 and C2 colon cancer patients (P=0.0018, P=0.0011). Analysis with reference to the median DSDI demonstrated that there was a significant difference in 5-year survival in Dukes' C2 (P=0.0016), but survival was not affected by the dose intensity. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only the total dose of 5-FU administered per surface area affected the 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival (P=0.0016, P=0.0007, respectively). It can be concluded that the total dose of 5-FU administered is important in planned dosage schedule of adjuvant chemotherapy in colon cancer.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul 120-752, South Korea.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Jeung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil