[Ambulatory continuous intravenous infusion of fluorouracil: a feasible palliative form of chemotherapy].

A study to evaluate the feasibility and toxicity of outpatient continuous intravenous infusion of fluorouracil (5-FU) was initiated at the department of Medical Oncology of the University Hospital of Utrecht. To this purpose a subcutaneous drug delivery system (Port-a-Cath) was implanted in 36 patients with various advanced cancers. Of these patients 83% had received prior chemotherapy (including 5-FU in 62%). Ambulatory continuous-infusion pumps were used to administer 5-FU in a dosage of 300 mg/m2/24 h. The treatment was continued until tumour progression was seen, and it was interrupted in case of toxicity grade 2 or more (WHO criteria). A Port-a-Cath was implanted 37 times in the 36 patients. The main complications of this infusion system were pneumothorax (2/37), arrhythmia (1/37), catheter sepsis (2/37) and thrombosis (2/37); they were easily managed. The toxicity and feasibility of this treatment were evaluable in 30 patients. They received a median of 44 g 5-FU (range 11-136, 5 g, mean 281 mg/m2/24 h) during a median infusion time of 12 weeks (range 4-32 w). Side effects were encountered in 70% of the patients and consisted of the hand-foot syndrome (14/30), nausea and vomiting (8/30), diarrhoea (8/30) and stomatitis (7/30). The toxicity was completely reversible after a short interruption of the chemotherapy. The treatment was tolerated well, and good palliation was attained in 22 of 30 patients. The best response was seen in patients with colon and breast cancer. We conclude that continuous infusion of 5-FU is a reliable outpatient chemotherapy even in this category of patients.