Oral regimen consisting of UFT/UZEL for elderly patients with colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
A clinical trial has been planned to assess the safety and efficacy of oral administration of UFT and leucovorin (UZEL) in elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
Twenty-six patients with advanced CRC who were over 70 years and considered ineligible for combination chemotherapy received oral UFT 300 mg/day and UZEL 75mg/day were administered orally for 28 days followed by a 7-day rest period. Treatment was repeated every 5 weeks until disease progression.


RESULTS
A total of 106 cycles of UFT/UZEL were administered (median, four cycles; range, one to twelve cycles). UFT/UZEL was well tolerated. The response rate was 11% (3 partial responses, 16 stable diseases, and 7 progressive diseases). The median progression-free survival rate was 3.9 months and the median survival time was 9.8 months. Treatment-related grade 3 and 4 adverse events were not observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral regimen consisting of UFT/ UZEL is effective and well tolerated in elderly patients with advanced CRC who are considered ineligible for combination chemotherapy.
Tsutsumi
Soichi
S
Department of General Surgical Science (Surgery I), Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. chuchumi@showa.gunma-u.ac.jp
Yamaguchi
Satoru
S
Tsuboi
Kaori
K
Fukasawa
Takaharu
T
Yamaki
Sayaka
S
Asao
Takayuki
T
Kuwano
Hiroyuki
H
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D015996:Survival Rate; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin