Chemotherapy with Five-Day Continuous Infusion of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) Plus Cisplatin for Advanced Gastric Cancer; Significance of 5-FU Concentration Monitoring / 대한암학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the therapeutic effects and toxicities of 5-day continuous infusion of 5-FU plus cisplatin FP chemotherapy in advanced gastric adendegrees Carcinoma and to elucidate the relationship between the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and therapeutic outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with previously untreated advanced stomach cancer were treated with FP chemotherapy. Plasma concentrations of 5-FU were measured using gas chro matography method for 5 days. Correlation of PK parameters of 5-FU with clinical outcome after FP chemotherapy was studied. RESULTS: Response rate of FP chemotherapy was 46% (95% C.I. 30~62%). There was a wide range of difference in the concentration and area under the curve (AUC) of 5-FU from patient to patient. We could find significant differences in AUC of 5-FU between the responders and the non-responders (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We could confirm that FP chemotherapy was effective and tolerable for the treatment of advanced stomach cancer. The monitoring of plasma 5-FU concentration after chemotherapy and the adjustment of subsequent 5-FU dose seems to be necessary to improve the treatment outcome of FP chemotherapy.