5-FLUOROURACIL, ADRIAMYCIN, AND MITOMYCIN-C IN ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ESOPHAGUS OR GASTROESOPHAGEAL JUNCTION TUMORS

We reviewed our results with chemotherapy for adenocarcinoma of the es ophagus or gastroesophageal junction tumors in patients treated with 5 -fluorouracil, Adriamycin, and mitomycin C (FAM) regimen as developed by MacDonald and colleagues (10) for adenocarcinoma of the stomach. Si xteen patients were treated, 12 with metastatic and 4 with locoregiona l disease. Responses were seen in 6 of 16 patients (all partial respon ses), for an overall response rate of 37.5%. The sites of response inc lude liver (3), lung (1), bone (1), and lymph nodes (1). Median durati on of response was 7 months. These results with FAM in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus suggest activity similar to that seen in gastric carc inoma. The second-generation chemotherapy combinations effective in ga stric carcinoma merit evaluation in this tumor to see if the remission rates could be further improved.