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- Title
Is Continuous 24-Hour Infusion of 5-Fluorouracil plus High-Dose Folinic Acid Effective in Patients with Progressive or Recurrent Colorectal Cancer?
- Authors
Hartmann; Köhne; Schmoll; Daikeler; Kanz; Bokemeyer
- Abstract
Background: To evaluate the therapeutic activity of 24-hour continuously infused 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) modulated by high-dose folinic acid in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had recurred or progressed following mainly bolus 5-FU/folinic acid chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: Forty-two patients with a median age of 59 years (45–76) were enrolled. Karnosfky status was 90% (80–100), previous chemotherapy regimen bolus 5-FU/folinic acid (n = 33, 79%) or 24-hour continuous 5-FU ± interferon α[sub 2] (n = 9, 21%). Chemotherapy was given as a weekly infusion of 500 mg/m[sup 2] folinic acid over 2 h followed by a 24-hour continuous infusion of 2,600 mg/m[sup 2] 5-FU for 6 consecutive weeks followed by a 2-week rest period. Results: No complete but 6 partial responses were observed (ORR: 14%, CI[sub 95%] : 3.5–25.1%) with a median response duration of 7.3 months (range: 1.4–10.6). The median survival from the start of continuous infusion of 5-FU was 11.6 months (range: 2–27, CI[sub 95%] : 9.4–13.8) and the 1-year survival rate was 46%. Disease stabilization and minor responses were achieved in another 25 patients (61%). WHO grade III/IV diarrhea occurred in 26% of patients, mucositis, nausea/vomiting and hand-foot syndrome in 5% each. Two cases of WHO grade III anemia and leukocytopenia were observed (5% each). Dose reductions had to be performed in 11 patients because of unacceptable diarrhea with subsequent stop of treatment in 2 patients. Progressive disease while receiving previous bolus 5-FU chemotherapy was associated with a lower response rate, shorter progression-free interval and overall survival compared to response and survival of patients who had achieved temporary disease stabilization during previous bolus 5-FU therapy. Conclusions: Continuous infusion of 5-FU/folinic acid displays activity in pretreated and refractory colorectal cancer with acceptable toxicity. Patients who had achieved disease stabilization or objective remission with previous 5-FU bolus therapy appear to be more likely to benefit from second-line treatment. Questions remaining to be addressed include the optimal starting dose of continuously infused 5-FU and whether the dose of folinic acid can be reduced or completely eliminated with respect to toxicity and health economics.
- Subjects
CANCER chemotherapy; FLUOROURACIL; FOLINIC acid; ANTINEOPLASTIC agents; COLON cancer; CANCER treatment
- Publication
Oncology, 1998, Vol 55, Issue 4, p320
- ISSN
0030-2414
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1159/000011869