5-FLUOROURACIL AND FOLINIC ACID IN ADVANCED ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS OR ESOPHAGOGASTRIC JUNCTION AREA

Background: The results of chemotherapy against gastric cancer or esop hageal squamous cell carcinomas cannot be generalized to adenocarcinom as of the esophagus. Therefore the combination of 5-fluorouracil and f olinic acid was studied in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Patients and met hods: After a loading dose of 4 x 90 mg folinic acid orally, a contino us infusion of 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/sqm/day for 5 days with concommit ant folinic acid 6 x 60 mg/day orally, was administered to 29 consecut ive patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or esopha gogastric junction area. Results: This schedule was tolerated well wit h mild mucositis and diarrhea. In one patient reversible cardiotoxicit y was seen. Five patients obtained a partial remmission (19%; 95% conf idence interval (CI): 6%-38%), and 8 patients stable disease. One earl y death. Conclusions: This combination has modest activity against ade nocarcinoma of the esophagus; its toxicity profile permits incorporati on in combination protocols.