Phase II study of orally and rectally administered Tegafur in liver metastases from gastric carcinoma.

Twenty-four eligible and evaluable patients with measurable liver metastases from gastric cancer were treated with oral or rectal Tegafur. Objective responses were seen in 8 of the patients (33.3%), lasting between 1.5 and 15 months. The median survival period was 10 months for the responders and 2.6 months for non-responders. No complete response was observed. The survival of responders was significantly longer than that of non-responders (p less than 0.01). Toxicity was mild and consisted principally of gastrointestinal and hematological side effects. No central nervous system toxicity was seen.