Effect of continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil and daily low-dose cisplatin for inoperable recurrent cancer of the stomach and colon

With the use of cisplatin to enhance the effect of 5-FU, a combined approach was designed to treat patients with inoperable recurrent cancer of the stomach (15) and colon (6). This CDDP-5-FU therapy consisted of intermittent infusion of CDDP at a dose of 6 mg/m2 every day and continuous infusion of 5-FU at a daily dose of 200 mg/m2 for 2 weeks with a 2-week interval in between. There were 1CR and 6PR, and the overall response rate was 40.0%. Toxicity was manifested in slight nausea or vomiting in two patients (10.0%), but there was no nephrotoxity. Thrombocytopenia of Grade 4 was found in 1 patient and leucopenia of Grade 3 in another. The efficiency of performance status was in 14 patients (66.7%). Combination of daily low-dose cisplatin and 5-FU is a tolerable treatment for patients with inoperable recurrent stomach and colon cancer. It is suggested that CDDP plays a role as not only an effector but also a modulator in biochemical modulation of 5-FU in this therapy. The infusion schedule is also suitable for chemotherapy of outpatients. Further studies on the appropriate infusion of CDDP and 5-FU are needed.