J Korean Soc Coloproctol.  2000 Dec;16(6):469-473.

Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Intravenous 5 Fluorouracil and Oral Doxifluridine as Preoperative Concurrent Chemoradiation for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Medical Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. namkyuk@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE: Preoperative radiation treatment with concomittant intravenous infusion of 5-fluorouracil has been known to be effective in shrinking and downstaging the tumor. Treatment with Doxifluridine (synthetic 5-deoxynucleoside derivative) medication prolongs drug exposure to tumor tissue, so it can be considered synergistic to concurrent radiotherapy. Intravenous 5-FU and oral Doxifluridine were compared with respect to tumor response, toxicity, and quality of life of patients.
METHODS
Twenty eight patients with rectal cancer, staged as over T3N1 or T4 by transrectal ultrasonography between July 1997 and December 1998 were included. Intravenous 5-FU (450 mg/m2/day) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2) was given for five consecutive days during first and fifth weeks of irradiation therapy (50.4 Gy) (N=14). Oral Doxifluridine (700 mg/m2/day) and leucovorin (20 mg/m2) was given daily during radiation treatment (N=14). Quality of life was scored according to twenty two activity items (good: >77, fair: >58, poor: <57). Surgical resection was performed four weeks after completion of concurrent chemoradiation treatment. Tumor response was classified as CR (Complete Response), PR (Partial Response: 50% diminution of tumor volume or downstaging), or NR (No Response).
RESULTS
Tumor response was CR: 3/14 (21.4%), PR: 7/14 (50%) and NR: 4/14 (28.6%) in IV arm versus CR: 2/14 (14.2%), PR: 6/14 (42.9%) and NR: 6/14 (42.9%) in oral arm (p=0.16, 0.23, 0.24, respectively). Quality of life was poor (36.4% vs 33.3%), fair and good (63.6% vs 66.7%, respectively) between IV arm and oral arm. Systemic recurrence during follow up periods was 1/14 (7.1%) in IV arm and 2/14 (14.3%) in oral arm, respectively (p=0.307). One local recurrence was observed in oral arm. Hematologic toxicity was 3/14 (21.4%) in IV arm versus 4/14 (28.5%) in oral arm, respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicity was 2/14 (14.3%) versus 5/14 (35.7%) and stomatitis was observed in IV arm (1/14, 7.1%)
CONCLUSION
Oral doxifluridine based chemotherapy shows a comparable tumor response and oncologic results, but there was no benefits as far as quality of life and toxicity were concerned.

Keyword

Rectal cancer; Preoperative chemoradiation; Intravenous 5 fluorouracil; Oral doxifluridine

MeSH Terms

Arm
Drug Therapy
Fluorouracil*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Leucovorin
Prospective Studies*
Quality of Life
Radiotherapy
Rectal Neoplasms*
Recurrence
Stomatitis
Tumor Burden
Ultrasonography
Fluorouracil
Leucovorin
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