[Usefulness of pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy (PMC) for the postoperative adjuvant therapy of colorectal carcinoma: a preliminary report]

Abstract

Pharmacokinetic modulating chemotherapy (PMC) using oral UFT and continuous venous 5-FU infusion was administered to 22 resectable patients with Dukes' B2-D colorectal carcinomas. The regimen was arranged as follows: Group A (n = 12) UFT 300-450 mg/day, 5 days a week and 5-FU 440-600 mg/m2/24 hr (750-1,000 mg/body/24 hr) once a week, Group B (n = 10), UFT less than 300 mg/day, 5 days a week, and/ or 5-FU less than 440 mg/m2/24 hr (750 mg/body/ 24 hr) once a week. The control group (Group C, n = 26) was selected at random from among non-PMC cases matched for other background factors and in which surgery had been performed during the past 4 years. Fifteen out of 26 patients in Group C were treated with 5-FU masked compounds orally. The cumulative 2 year recurrent rates of Groups A, B and C were 8.3%, 52.0% and 50.0%, respectively; the rate of Group A was significantly lower than that of Group B (p < 0.05). Four patients who suffered from PMC-related side effects of grade 1-2 wanted to decrease their dosage of UFT and/or 5-FU. They were registered in Group B. These results suggest that the regimen of Group A was advantageous in improving the prognosis after resection of Dukes' B2-D colorectal carcinoma.