Weekly 24-h infusion of high-dose 5-flurouracil and leucovorin in patients with advanced gastric cancer

Jen Shi Chen*, Hsueh Erh Liu, Cheng Hsu Wang, Tsai Shen Yang, Hung Ming Wang, Chi Ting Liau, Wen Cheng Chang, Yung Chang Lin

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of biochemical modulation of weekly high-dose 5fluorouracil (5-FU) 24 h infusion by leucovorin (LV) in the treatment of 39 consecutive patients with advanced gastric cancer without prior chemotherapy from October 1996 to August 1997 was examined. There were 21 male and 18 female patients with a median age of 56 years. The regimen consisted of 5-FU 2600 mg/m2 and LV 150 mg administered by 24 h infusion weekly for 6 weeks followed by a 2 week break. The treatment was repeated every 8 weeks until disease progression, patient refusal or unacceptable toxicity. Placement of a central vascular device and a portable external infusion pump was required in all patients and was used for outpatient treatment. The response to treatment was evaluated every 8 weeks. A total of 395 chemotherapy treatments were given with a mean of 10 (2-24). This response rate was: 33% (12 of 36) partial response (PR) rate, 33% (12 of 36) stable disease (SD) and 33% (12 of 36) progressive disease (PD). In general, the toxicity was mild but two toxic deaths occurred, one due to neutropenic sepsis and the other due to hyperammonemia. The median time to progression was 4 months. The overall median survival was 7 months. The survivals of the PR, SD and PD were 12,8 and 5 months, respectively. This regimen showed a modest activity against gastric cancer with acceptable toxicity. Weekly 24 h infusion of high-dose 5-FU with LV in an outpatient setting for patients with gastric cancer is feasible and deserves further study as a basis for combination therapy. [

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)355-359
Number of pages5
JournalAnti-Cancer Drugs
Volume10
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Gastric cancer
  • High-dose 5-fluorouracil
  • Infusion pump
  • Leucovorin

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