Serum concentration of 5-FU and tegafur (FT-207) after administration of tegafur (FT-207) suppository with the colostomy

Tegafur (FT-207) suppositories were administered at a rate of 750 mg via the artificial anus (ST Group) following surgery of rectal cancer. Comparative studies were conducted of changes in blood concentrations of 5-FU and tegafur at the time of initial administration and following one week of continuous use for the low-anterior resection cases (LA Group) and the rectal administration cases (RE Group). FT-207 concentration at initial administration was low in the ST group compared to those for both LA and RE groups which received anal administration of the drug, but only little changes were noted. Blood concentration one hour after administration was 11.1 micrograms/ml, elevated to 14.3 micrograms/ml at two hours, and remained at 10 micrograms/ml and above for six hours following administration. The ST group 5-FU concentrations at two, four and six hours after administration were significantly lower than those in the RE group but the changes were little. Blood concentrations were 0.015 microgram/ml at one hour after administration, 0.017 micrograms/ml at two hours and maintained virtually the same level thereafter. An effective concentration of 0.012 microgram/ml was maintained even at ten hours following administration. After one week of administration of the suppositories, the ST group showed the lowest concentration among three groups, but it was approximately double compared to the initial concentration; FT-207 showed nearly the same concentration in the LA group and 5-FU blood concentration was 0.025 microgram/ml at one hour after administration, reached to a maximum of 0.030 microgram/ml at two hours and maintained 0.020 microgram/ml and higher at ten hours. 5-FU concentration in the LA and RE groups after one week of continuous administration showed a dual-peaked pattern. No patient with an abnormal artificial anus was involved in this study. The artificial anus is thought to be an adequate and effective administration route of FT-207 suppositories.