[Combined high dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion for head-neck and digestive tract cancers].
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.
Xu
Deming
D
Central Hospital of Guangdong Provincial Agricutural Reclamation, Zhanjiang 524002, China.
Chen
Guoquan
G
Li
Shengyi
S
Cai
Yongguang
Y
Chen
Huanwei
H
Ling
Huahai
H
Li
Ziqing
Z
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
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil