title: Continuous infusion of a large dose of CF (folinic acid) and 5-FU combined with CDDP in the treatment of advanced esophageal cancer.
abstract: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP) are common chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of patients with advanced esophageal cancer. We investigated the efficacy of adding a continuous infusion of a large dose of a common adjuvant, citrovorumfactor (CF), to the traditional 5-FU/wCDDP regimen. 50 patients with advanced esophageal cancer were treated with a continuous infusion of CF, 5-FU, and CDDP, and the short-term effects, adverse reactions, and survival periods after treatment were analyzed. Overall, the treatment was effective in 58% of patients, and the therapeutic effects of the first-line of chemotherapy were significantly better than the second-line (u = 4.121, p < 0.05). Patients experienced severe nausea and vomiting in 18.7% of the treatment cycles and experienced severe hair loss or leucopenia in 1.9% of the treatment cycles. The majority of the treatment cycles produced only mild side effects. The median survival period following chemotherapy treatment was 10.6 months (95% confidence interval was 8.146 ~ 13.054 months), with the median survival time of patients with a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score ≥ 80 being significantly longer than that of patients with KPS scores < 80 (χ2= 41.595, p < 0.05). The median survival time of patients with metastasis to the lymph nodes and surrounding tissue was significantly longer than that of patients with visceral metastasis (χ2= 32.246, p < 0.05). Cox regression analysis showed that KPS scores before the treatment < 80 (relative risk (RR= = 1.635) and the incidence of visceral metastasis (RR = 1.875) were associated with survival time (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the continuous infusion of a large dose of CF, 5-FU, and CDDP as chemotherapy treatment of advanced esophageal cancer can produce promising short-term results and decrease adverse reactions.
authors.forename: Zheng-Qiu
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zu-An
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Hong-Xing
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil