title: Simultaneous 24 h-infusion of high-dose 5-fluorouracil and sodium-folinate as alternative to capecitabine in advanced breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prognosis of metastatic breast cancer is poor with a 5-year survival rate of 21%. Even though it is incurable, the majority of patients needs a treatment to ameliorate symptoms and prolong survival. If chemotherapy is indicated, toxicity of multi-drug regimens often out-weighs the possible gain, making single-agent chemotherapy the preferred choice. Although capecitabine is frequently used for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, it is not a therapeutic option for all patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since simultaneous application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and sodium folinate is a promising alternative treatment for certain patients, we reviewed the cases of 26 patients treated at our site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.6 months and overall survival (OS) was 18.5 months with a beneficial toxicity profile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of simultaneous high level 5-FU and sodium folinate is comparable to other frequently used single-agent chemotherapies, while the toxicity profile is favorable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany arne.terjung@helios-kliniken.de.
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Terjung
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kummer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedrich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000069287:Capecitabine; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D000069287:Capecitabine; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: 5-FU; Advanced-stage breast cancer; chemotherapy; metastatic breast cancer; sodium folinate