5-fluorouracil and low-dose leucovorin in the treatment of recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix. A phase II trial of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

Twenty-eight patients with recurrent squamous carcinoma of the cervix not amenable to cure by further surgery or radiation therapy were entered into a Phase II trial utilizing i.v. leucovorin 20 mg/m2 followed by 5-fluorouracil 425 mg/m2 administered daily for 5 days every 4 weeks for the first two courses and then every 5 weeks. One patient never received therapy, and three are inevaluable for response; therefore, 27 patients were evaluable for toxicity and 24 for response. Twenty-three patients had received prior radiotherapy, and 16 had received prior chemotherapy. There was one partial response 4.2% (95% confidence intervals for a response of 0 to 21%). Although toxicity was acceptable with 11 of 27 (41%) grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, 1 of 27 (4%) grade 3 thrombocytopenia, and 3 of 27 (11%) grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal toxicity, this dose schedule of 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin has minimal activity in recurrent squamous carcinoma of the cervix.