[Combined high dose leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil continuous infusion for head-neck and digestive tract cancers].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of combined high dose leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil infusion for head-neck and digestive tract cancers.

METHODS

Fifty-six patients with head-neck and digestive tract cancer were treated by combined high dose leucovorin (HD-CF) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) 48 hour continuous infusion with each patient receiving an average of 3.8 cycles (2-6 cycles). Twenty-five of these 56 patients were untreated and 31 recurrent. Their clinical stages were II 4, III 13 and IV 39.

RESULTS

The over all response rate (CR + PR) was 35.7% and the clinical beneficial response rate was 80.4%. The main side effects were peripheral phlebitis, suppression of bone marrow, oral ulcer, nausea and vomiting of grade I to II.

CONCLUSION

High dose leucovorin plus 5-fluorouracil 48 hour continuous infusion is useful with favorable cost/utility ratio for head-neck and digestive tract cancer patients. Further studies are warranted.