5-FLUOROURACIL AND ALPHA-INTERFERON IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of mortality worldwide , and no effective systemic therapy currently exists. Recombinant alph a-interferon (IFN) has been suggested to have some antitumor efficacy in this illness, and synergism with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been rep orted in several gastrointestinal malignancies. We therefore treated 1 0 patients with advanced HCC with combination therapy consisting of 5- FU 750/mg/m(2) weekly and IFN 9 x 10(6) units three times weekly. Toxi city was substantial in this cirrhotic population, and included mucosi tis as well as neurologic and hematologic side effects. There were no sustained antitumor responses. Median survival among this heavily pret reated population was 10 months. We were therefore unable to demonstra te any significant benefit to treatment with 5-FU and IFN in patients with HCC.