title: Preliminary study of the optimal dosing schedule for oral UFT/leucovorin chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the optimal dosage schedule for combined oral chemotherapy using uracil/tegafur (UFT) and leucovorin (LV) in Yoshida sarcoma-bearing rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antitumor activity and survival effect were compared between two schedules, thrice daily administration on 5 days of the week followed by 2 drug-free days (schedule A) and twice daily on 7 days of the week (schedule B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant tumor growth inhibition and improved survival rate were seen with both schedules of the UFT/LV group as compared to their respective control groups. Tumor growth inhibition was significantly greater in schedule A than schedule B. The number of survivors on day 60 after the tumor inoculation was higher in schedule A although the survival rate did not differ significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of UFT/LV for 5 days of the week seemed to exhibit superior antitumor activity, with no increase in the incidence of adverse effects, as compared with the consecutive daily dosing schedule.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Tokai University, Japan. sadahiro@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
authors.forename: Sotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sadahiro
authors.forename: Toshiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saguchi
authors.forename: Akemi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamijo
authors.forename: Seiei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makuuchi
authors.forename: Chieko
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murayama
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D012517:Sarcoma, Yoshida / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin