Preliminary study of the optimal dosing schedule for oral UFT/leucovorin chemotherapy.
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.
Sadahiro
Sotaro
S
Department of Surgery, Tokai University, Japan. sadahiro@is.icc.u-tokai.ac.jp
Suzuki
Toshiyuki
T
Ishikawa
Kenji
K
Nakamura
Tomoki
T
Saguchi
Takeshi
T
Kamijo
Akemi
A
Yasuda
Seiei
S
Makuuchi
Hiroyasu
H
Murayama
Chieko
C
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*
D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin