The outcomes of intensified 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin chemotherapy for preoperative chemoradiation in rectal cancers
- Author:
Neul HA
1
;
Kwang Dae HONG
;
Woong Bae JI
;
Jung Sik KIM
;
Jun Won UM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: 5-fluorouracil; Rectal neoplasms; Consolidation chemotherapy
- MeSH: Adenocarcinoma; Anemia; Chemoradiotherapy; Consolidation Chemotherapy; Drug Therapy; Fluorouracil; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leucovorin; Rectal Neoplasms; Retrospective Studies; Thrombocytopenia
- From: Korean Journal of Clinical Oncology 2017;13(2):147-151
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: The clinical benefit of intensified neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in rectal cancer has not been proved. We investigated clinical outcomes of intensified 5-fluorouracil plus leucovorin (5-FU/LV) chemotherapy.METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 45 patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent neoadjuvant CRT between 2010 and 2015. Intensified group took additional 1 cycle of 5-FU/LV chemotherapy after radiation completion (resting period) before surgery, compared to conventional group.RESULTS: Eighteen patients were in conventional group and 27 were in intensified group. Median follow-up duration was 33.7 months (range, 7.8–75.6 months). Complete response rate was 11.4% (5/45). Twelve patients in conventional group and 16 patients in intensified group achieved downstaging (P=0.435). In aspect of toxicity, anemia and thrombocytopenia tended to be more frequent in intensified group without statistical difference. There was also no difference in survival between two groups.CONCLUSION: The intensified CRT with additional 1 cycle of 5-FU/LV in rectal cancer revealed no clinical benefit compared to conventional regimen. Considering that the adverse event was minimal and generally acceptable, further research with additional cycles of 5-FU/LV is needed to prove a real benefit of intensified CRT.
