Author/Editor     Štabuc, B; Markovič, A; Plesničar, A; Cizelj, TE
Title     Double modulation of 5-fluorouracil by leucovorin and low-dose methotrexate in advanced colorectal cancer
Type     članek
Source     Neoplasma
Vol. and No.     Letnik 47, št. 4
Publication year     2000
Volume     str. 248-52
Language     eng
Abstract     A phase II study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a double biochemical modulation of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) by methotrexate (MTX) and leucovorin (LV) in patients with advanced unresectable colorectal cancer. Fortytwo patients with measurable metastases of colorectal cancer were treated with 5-FU in daily doses of 600 mg/m2 given in a 6-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion on days 1-5, LV 50 mghn-' i.v. on days 2,3 and 5, and MTX 40 mg/m2 i.v. on days 1 and 4, every 4 weeks. Twenty-eight patients had a single metastatic site, eleven double, whereas three had more than two metastatic sites. Objective response (one complete response) was observed in 12 of 40 patients (30'%) (95% confidence interval 16-48), stable disease in 19 patients (47%) and progression in 9 patients (23%). Overall median survival was 12 months. Median time to progression was 6 months. Treatment was generally well tolerated. The most frequent adverse reactions were stomatitis (38'%), nausea and vomiting (35%), diarrhea (31%), Ieukopenia ( 18%), and plantar-palmar crythroderma (15%). The combination of 5-FU, LV and MTX seems to be an active regimen in advanced colorectal cancer.
Descriptors     COLORECTAL NEOPLASMS
FLUOROURACIL
METHOTREXATE
LEUCOVORIN
NEOPLASM STAGING
SURVIVAL ANALYSIS
CLINICAL TRIALS, PHASE II