title: [Combined high dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion for head-neck and digestive tract cancers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of combined high dose leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil infusion for head-neck and digestive tract cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six patients with head-neck and digestive tract cancer were treated by combined high dose leucovorin (HD-CF) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 48 hour continuous infusion with each patient receiving an average of 3.8 cycles (2-6 cycles). Twenty-five of these 56 patients were untreated and 31 recurrent. Their clinical stages were II 4, III 13 and IV 39.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The over all response rate (CR + PR) was 35.7% and the clinical beneficial response rate was 80.4%. The main side effects were peripheral phlebitis, suppression of bone marrow, oral ulcer, nausea and vomiting of grade I to II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High dose leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil 48 hour continuous infusion is useful with favorable cost/utility ratio for head-neck and digestive tract cancer patients. Further studies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Central Hospital of Guangdong Provincial Agricutural Reclamation, Zhanjiang 524002, China.
authors.forename: Deming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Guoquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shengyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yongguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Huanwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Huahai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Ziqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil