title: [Oral fluoropyrimidines registered for the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma: a possible gain].
abstract: Up until now the standard treatment for metastasized colorectal carcinoma has been fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with folonic acid in low doses administered intravenously, even after the recent registration of a number of new intravenously administered cytostatics, such as irinotecan and oxaliplatin. Meanwhile there are oral alternatives for 5-FU: capecitabine and the combination of tegafur and uracil with folonic acid. In four randomised studies it was shown that these drugs were globally just as effective as the combination of 5-FU with folonic acid (in accordance with the 'Mayo Clinic' scheme). There was no survival advantage for the oral drugs compared to 5-FU with folonic acid. Compared to 5-FU and folonic acid the use of capecitabine or tegafur-uracil-folonic acid was associated with less toxic effects; however, there were differences in the side effects profile between the oral drugs and 5-FU (more hand-foot syndrome for capecitabine and less (symptomatic) leucopenia for tegafur-uracil-folonic acid). An examination of the serious side effects (grade 3 and 4) revealed that the total incidence was generally comparable. These data, together with the ease of oral administration, form the basis for the registration of capecitabine and tegafur-uracil-folonic acid. The definitive place of these drugs in the treatment of metastasized colorectal carcinoma is not yet clear.
authors.affiliation: Agentschap ten behoeve van het College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen, afd. Klinische Beoordelingen, Den Haag. a.croockewit@hemat.azn.nl
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Croockewit
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: J W A
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: van Loenhout
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Koopmans
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069287:Capecitabine; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D011743:Pyrimidines; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil