The 5-fluorouracil hepato-arterial infusion with oral UFT therapy for the hepatic and extra hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer

Background: The 5 fluorouracil hepato-arterial infusion (5-FU HAI) therapy has a good effect on the liver metastases of colorectal cancer. To gain the antitumor effect of the extra-hepatic lesion, an oral UFT was combined with 5-FU HAI (pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy, PMC) to enhance the plasma 5-FU concentration.

Methods: UFT (200-400 mg/day) was orally administered daily and a continuous infusion of 5-FU (1,000-1,500 mg/5 h) was given once a week. Eight patients were treated with this regimen. Five of the eight have extra-hepatic lesions with liver metastases when this treatment was started. The response, time to progression, survival, and toxicity were detected.

Results: Four of the five patients with extra-hepatic lesion were evaluated. The response rate was 50% (1 CR, 1 PR, and 2 SD). For the liver metastases, the response rate was 62.5% (1 CR, 4 PR, 2 SD, and 1 PD). Grade 2 leukopenia was found in 1 patient.

Conclusions: The 5-FU HAI with an oral UFT therapy had a good effect on the extra-hepatic lesions as well as hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer.