HIGH-DOSE FOLINIC ACID AND 5-FLUOROURACIL BOLUS AND CONTINUOUS-INFUSION IN ADVANCED COLORECTAL-CANCER - POOR RESPONSE RATE IN UNSELECTED PATIENTS

We have conducted a retrospective study of high-dose folinic acid and 5-fluorouracil in 96 patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Patient s received 200 mg m(-2) (maximum 300-350 mg) folinic acid by infusion over 2 h followed by an i.v. bolus of 5-fluorouracil 400 mg m(-2) then an infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg m(-2) over 22 h. This was repeat ed over the next 24 h. The schedule was given every 2 weeks for four c ycles; thereafter patients with objective response continued to a maxi mum of eight cycles. The overall response rate was 10.6% in 85 evaluab le patients. The median duration of response was 11 months. The median survival was 6 months. Toxicity was low, only one patient experiencin g toxicity greater than WHO grade II (grade IV platelet toxicity). Dia rrhoea, nausea, Vomiting and mucositis also occurred but were mild and infrequent. Our low response rate may be related to factors such as p atient characteristics or duration of treatment.