ABSTRACT
Twenty four evaluable patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma were entered into a pilot study that used 3 consecutive days of 5- fluorouracil [600 mg/m2 as 24 hours infusion] and folinic acid [120 mg/m2 as 4 hours infusion]. This regimen was repeated on 3 weekly basis. Eight patients [33%] were considered to be refractory to previous fluorouracil monotherapy. Objective response [including one complete remission] was seen in 33% of the patients. Two out of the 8 previously treated patients [25%] exhibited partial remission. The mean survival time was 13.5 months for responders 8.5 months for stable disease and 3.8 months for progressive disease [P less than 0.01]. Treatment related toxicity was generally mild with no single life threatening complication. Diarrhea and oral mucositis were the 2 most commonly encountered adverse effects