Home chemotherapy by concomitant UFT + Leucovorin (po.) in postoperative colorectal cancer patients assessed with Dukes D and curability C colorectal cancer

Concomitant treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Leucovorin (LV) is positioned as the standard chemotherapy against colorectal cancer. We noted the action of LV to enhance the effect of biochemical modulation by 5-FU, and made an attempt at home chemotherapy with UFT + LV by oral administration, in consideration to the convenience of patients. SUBJECTS: The subjects of this study were 24 post-operative patients who had been assessed with Dukes D and curability C colorectal cancer with measurable metastatic lesions and who could tolerate chemotherapy. METHODS: 1 course of treatment consisted of 2 weeks of UFT at 300-400 mg/m2/day and LV at 15 mg/body/day followed by 2 weeks of drug withdrawal. The administration was conducted for 4 courses or more as the target. Unless serious adverse reaction occurred, dose increase of UFT was allowed. RESULTS: The efficacy rate in the 22 patients who were assessable was 22.7%. There were 11 NC patients, accounting for half (50%) of the subjects. This home chemotherapy is expected to become an alternative chemotherapy against colorectal cancer in the future, because the treatment does not require hospitalization and has less impact on the QOL of patients.