[Efficacy of uracil/tegafur (UFT) plus oral Leucovorin (LV) therapy for colorectal cancer in elderly patients].
OBJECTIVE
The uracil/tegafur (UFT) plus oral Leucovorin (LV) regimen is one of the standard chemotherapy modalities for colorectal cancer, and has been reported to have fewer side effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and toxicity of UFT/LV regimen in elderly patients.


METHODS
The subjects were twelve patients older than 70 years (median age, 76 years), who received a UFT/LV regimen for colorectal cancer between January 2004 and June 2005. Chemotherapy was attempted for metastatic colorectal cancer in seven patients and for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in five patients. The response rate and toxicity were compared with those of patients younger than 70 years old.


RESULTS
Four courses of chemotherapy, in median, were delivered. The regimen consisting of UFT 300 mg/m(2) was completed in all patients. One patient achieved a complete response and another patient a partial response, thus resulting in an overall response rate of 28.6%. Three patients experienced Grade 1 diarrhea, and seven patients had Grade 1 or 2 anemia. Grade 3 or 4 toxicity was not recognized in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with UFT/LV regimen is effective and well tolerated in elderly as well as younger patients.
Mizushima
Tsunekazu
T
Dept. of Surgery, Rinku General Medical Center, Izumisano Municipal Hospital.
Mizuno
Hitoshi
H
Ito
Toshikazu
T
Hoki
Masanori
M
Souma
Yoshihito
Y
Iwamoto
Takashi
T
Ozawa
Hideto
H
Kanou
Takashi
T
Nakamori
Yasuhiro
Y
Iwase
Kazuhiro
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000139:chemically induced; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014498:Uracil / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004338:Drug Combinations; C096910:UFT(R) drug; D005641:Tegafur; D014498:Uracil; D002955:Leucovorin