Endoscopic chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil in advanced gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that a local injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administered endoscopically can have a favorable result in patients with early gastric cancer.


METHODS
We report the application of a local injection of 5-FU administered endoscopically in three patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) who refused or were not suitable for surgery or systemic chemotherapy. The benefits of locally applied endoscopic chemotherapy (EC) with 5-FU as an alternative therapy were evaluated.


RESULTS
Good tolerance with an important reduction of the tumor size and no adverse reactions was observed in all three patients.


CONCLUSIONS
EC with 5-FU is a feasible technique that can be applied in a certain group of patients with AGC. Further studies will be required to corroborate these results.
Robles-Jara
Carlos
C
Gastroenterology Division, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Enfermedades Digestivas y Pelvicas (IECED), Portoviejo, Manabi, Ecuador. carlosroblesj@hotmail.com
Robles-Medranda
Carlos
C
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005472:Fluorouracil