5-FLUOROURACIL AND LOW-DOSE LEUCOVORIN IN METASTATIC COLORECTAL-CANCER - A PILOT-STUDY

A total of 56 consecutive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer r eceived treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) given at 425 mg/m(2) by r apid intravenous infusion, immediately preceded by leucovorin (LV) giv en at 20 mg/m(2), with cycles being repeated every 4 weeks. Of 48 eval uable patients undergoing this treatment, a tumor response was observe d in 16 (33%); a complete response, in 2 (4%); and a partial response, in 14 (29%). The median survival was 8.5 months for all patients and 16.5 months for responders. An improvement in symptoms was seen in 9 ( 26%) of 34 symptomatic patients. In all 15 (27%) of 44 evaluable patie nts showed an improvement in performance status. The most significant toxicity attributable to the treatment was mucositis of grade 3 or 4, seen in 27% of the patients. Altogether, 2 patients (3.5%) were hospit alized for treatment-related toxicity. We conclude that the combinatio n of 5-FU and low-dose LV is active in advanced colorectal cancer and is associated with acceptable toxicity.