Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy with 5-fluorouracil by bolus

Lara Maria Pasetto, Giulietta Sinigaglia, Umberto Basso, Silvia Cocchio, Alessia Compostella, Salvatore Pucciarelli, Maria Luisa Friso, Massimo Rugge, Paola Toppan, Marco Agostini, Silvio Monfardini

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CT-RT) with continuous infusion (c.i.) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) before resection of high-risk rectal cancer improves overall survival (OS) and pelvic control. Since the presence of cardiomiopathy may contraindicate c.i. of 5-FU, an alternative regimen of 5-FU CT-RT was prospectively studied in these patients. Patients and Methods: From October 2000 to December 2006, patients with clinical stage T3 or T4, or node-positive disease were assigned according to their cardiological status to receive weekly 5-FU bolus administration during radiotherapy (RT). The preoperative treatment consisted of 5,040 cGy, delivered infractions of 180 cGy per day, five days per week, and 5-FU, given in 15 minutes at a dose of 450 mg/m2 of body surface area weekly during all radiotherapy. Surgery was performed six weeks after the completion of CT-RT. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Fifty-one patients received preoperative CH-RT. The 2-year OS rate was 92.3% and the 3-year DFS was 87.5%. The five-year cumulative incidence of local relapse was 3.9%. Grade 3 acute toxic effects occurred in 19.6% of the patients; worsening of patient's cardiopathy was never reported. Conclusion: Patients with cardiopathy developed similar local control and DFS, toxicity and OS with 5-FU administered weekly by bolus as those reported by literature data.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)4095-4100
    Number of pages6
    JournalAnticancer Research
    Volume28
    Issue number6 B
    StatePublished - Nov 2008

    Keywords

    • Bolus 5-fluorouracil
    • Cardiotoxicity
    • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
    • Rectal cancer

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Cancer Research
    • Oncology

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