title: 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin as second-line chemotherapy in carcinomas of unknown primary site.
abstract: Carcinomas of unknown primary (CUP) are highly malignant diseases which have poor prognosis. We report in the present study the impact on survival and toxicity of a salvage chemotherapy with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in 25 patients with CUP who failed first-line treatment with cisplatin-based regimens. Chemotherapy was a bimonthly regimen of intravenous LV 200 mg/m2 as a 2-hour infusion followed by a 1-hour bolus 5-FU 400 mg/m2 and a 22-hour continuous infusion 5-FU 600 mg/m2 for 2 consecutive days every 2 weeks. The median number of cycles per patient was 4. Overall toxicity was mild. No objective response was observed. From the start of second-line chemotherapy, the median overall survival was 3 months. The median overall survival from diagnosis was 9 months. Second-line chemotherapy with 5-FU/LV has no impact on survival in patients with CUP.
authors.affiliation: Centre Régional de Lutte contre le Cancer, Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France. stculine@valdorel.fnclcc.fr
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Culine
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ychou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabbro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romieu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cupissol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; 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; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil