S. Cascinu et al., MULTIMODAL BIOCHEMICAL MODULATION OF 5-FLUOROURACIL BY LEUCOVORIN, METHOTREXATE, AND INTERFERON-ALPHA IN PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER, Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology, 38(4), 1996, pp. 385-386
A total of 26 patients with advanced colorectal cancer received 60 mg/
m(2) methotrexate i.v. on days 1-4; 400 mg/m(2) 5-fluorouracil i.v. on
days 2, 3, 5, and 6; and 100 mg/m(2) 6S-leucovorin i.v. on days 2, 3,
5, and 6. Interferon-alpha 2b at a dose of 3 million U was given i.m.
daily for the 6 days of chemotherapy. Courses were repeated every 3 w
eeks. There were four partial responses for a response rate of 15% (95
% confidence interval 2-28%). In all, 14 patients expressed grade 3 to
xicity; 9 patients had diarrhea, 3 had stomatitis, and 2 developed leu
kopenia. In conclusion, multimodal biochemical modulation of 5-fluorou
racil, at least on this schedule, does not seem to be effective, as it
results in severe toxicity.