A FIXED-RATIO COMBINATION OF URACIL AND FTORAFUR (UFT) WITH LOW-DOSE LEUCOVORIN - AN ACTIVE ORAL REGIMEN FOR ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER

Background. UFT is a fixed-ratio combination of uracil and Ftorafur, a prodrug that is absorbed orally and metabolized in vivo to 5-fluorour acil (5-FU). Uracil potentiates 5-FU through interference with its cat abolism. The combination of UFT and leucovorin in patients with advanc ed incurable colorectal cancer, to evaluate preliminary activity and t oxicity in this patient population. Methods. Twenty-one patients were treated. Twenty patients were evaluable for toxicity and response. Pat ients received UFT 350 mg/m2/day divided every 8 hours. Patients took a 5 mg tablet of leucovorin every 8 hours, concurrent with each UFT do se. Treatment was continued for 28 consecutive days, followed by a 7-d ay rest. Results. Five major objective responses (one complete and fou r partial) were observed. Toxicity was mild, with no dose-limiting mye losuppression. Four patients experienced grade 3 diarrhea or higher, a nd two patients experienced dose-limiting mucositis. Conclusion. UFT a nd low dose leucovorin is a well tolerated, orally administered regime n with activity in colorectal cancer. A randomized comparison of this regimen with conventional parenteral regimens is warranted.