OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Ethosomes encapsulated with 5-FU in treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis in rabbit models. METHOD: The 5-FU ethosome was prepared by the thin film hydration method, and the size distribution and the encapsulation efficiency was investigated. The tracheal mucosa was scraped about 0.5 cm in width with a nylon brush to induce the scar formation in the airway,then animals were divided into three groups: 5-FU ethosome group,5-FU group and saline group. Drugs were injected into scar by paracentesis under endoscope in each group respectively. The severity of stenosis was observed under laryngofiberoscope immediately, 7, 14, 21 days after administration. RESULT: Airway stenosis of 5-FU ethosome group was not significantly different compared with 5-FU group at 7 days after administration, but 5-FU ethosome significantly reduced the airway stenosis at 21 days after administration when compared with 5-FU group and no restenosis was noticed during the observation period. CONCLUSION Ethosomes encapsulated with 5-FU was effective for laryngotracheal stenosis. It is a potentially new method for ameliorating airway stenosis originated from granulation tissue.
Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Liposomes ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Tracheal Stenosis ; pathology ; surgery

No abstract available.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*therapeutic use ; Camptothecin/*analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Leucovorin/therapeutic use ; Male ; Organoplatinum Compounds/therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms/*drug therapy

Pancreatic cancer is a very lethal cancer. It is the 5th most common cause for cancer related mortality in Korea. Most of patients have unresectable pancreatic cancer, and systemic chemotherapy remains the only treatment option for them. Gemcitabine has been adopted as the standard first-line agent for advanced pancreatic cancer, but the progression free survival with gemcitabine is short. Many of patients need further treatment. We reviewed the clinical trials of second line chemotherapy for gemcitabine refractory pancreatic cancer and tried to show currently available treatment options.
Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Camptothecin/therapeutic use ; Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Organoplatinum Compounds/therapeutic use ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Taxoids/therapeutic use

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, increasing numbers of patients are accepting neoadjuvant chemotherapy before their operation in order to get a better prognosis. But chemotherapy has many side-effects. We have observed that patients who accepted neoadjuvant chemotherapy are more sensitive to anesthetics. The aim of this study was to determine the median effective dose (EC(50)) of intravenous anesthetics for neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients to lose consciousness during target-controlled infusion.

METHODSTwo hundred and forty breast cancer patients undergoing elective operations were assigned to six groups according to treatment received before their operation and the use of intravenous anesthetics during anesthesia; non-adjuvant chemotherapy + propofol group (group NP, n = 40), Taxol + propofol group (group TP, n = 40), adriamycin + cyclophosphamide + 5-Fu + propofol group (group CP, n = 40), non-adjuvant chemotherapy + etomidate group (group NE, n = 40), taxol + etomidate group (group TE, n = 40), adriamycin + cyclophosphamide + 5-Fu + etomidate group (group CE, n = 40). We set the beginning effect-site concentration (Ce) of propofol as 3.0 µg/ml and etomidate as 0.2 µg/ml. The concentration was increased by steps until the patient was asleep, (OAAS class I-II), then gave fentanyl 3 µg/kg and rocuronium 0.6 mg/kg and intubated three minutes later. The patients' age, height, and weight were recorded. BIS was recorded before induction, at the initial effect-site concentration and at loss of consciousness. The effect-site concentration was recorded when patient lost consciousness.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences between groups in general conditions before treatment; such as BIS of consciousness, age, sex and body mass index. The EC(50) of propofol in the NP, TP and CP groups was 4.11 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.96 - 4.26), 2.94 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.36 - 3.47) and 2.91 µg/ml (95%CI: 3.35 - 3.86), respectively. The EC50 of etomidate in the NE, TE and CE groups was 0.61 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.55 - 0.67), 0.38 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.33 - 0.44), and 0.35 µg/ml (95%CI: 0.34 - 0.36), respectively. There was no significant difference of BIS level before induction or in BIS50 level in any group when patients lost consciousness.

CONCLUSIONSThe EC(50) of intravenous anesthetics to cause loss of consciousness in neoadjuvant chemotherapy groups is lower than in the control group. There was no significant difference of BIS level at which patients lost consciousness.

Adult ; Anesthetics, Intravenous ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Etomidate ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; adverse effects ; Paclitaxel ; therapeutic use ; Propofol ; therapeutic use ; Unconsciousness ; chemically induced

Radiotherapy has been offered to patients with pancreatic cancer, either in the adjuvant or definitive setting. However, the role of radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer is increasingly doubted, especially after the introduction of gemcitabine to both domains. Although contradictory data exist, combined chemoradiotherapy improves both quantity and quality of life for patients with locally advanced tumors compared with radiotherapy alone or chemotherapy alone. Recently, induction chemotherapy strategy is being evaluated for better selection of patients for optimal benefit from consolidative chemoradiotherapy. Much controversy has been suggested concerning the role of adjuvant radiotherapy, but quality assurance for radiotherapy was not considered in the previously reported studies. Combined chemoradiotherapy in the adjuvant setting is still considered as a viable option. Current phase III randomized on-going studies will provide better answers on the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Antimetabolites/therapeutic use ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy/*radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical effect of TPF regimen in the treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma and explore various clinical factors affecting treatment efficacy. METHOD: The clinical data of 20 cases with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, who received TPF treatment, were analyzed retrospectively. After two courses of chemotherapy, based on radiographic outcomes, next treatment plan was developed. To sum up the clinical information, including the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth, pathologic type, tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, age and so on. To analyze possible influencing factors affecting curative effect. RESULT: (1) After 20 cases with hypopharyngeal carcinoma received two courses of TPF treatment, the effect was evaluated. Objective response rate was 65%. (2) In patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma, the efficacy of TPF therapy was significantly related to the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth and pathologic type; there was no statistical significance in tumor stage, lymph node metastasis and age. CONCLUSION According to the clinical type, patterns of tumor growth and pathologic type of hypopharyngeal carcinoma, resistance to chemotherapy in hypopharyngeal carcinoma can be assessed, which provides important basis for designing individualized treatment plan.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms ; therapy ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Taxoids ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the benefit and safety of fluorouracil implants on colorectal cancer.

METHODSBased on the methods of Cochrane systematic reviews, databases including CBM(1982 to March 2011), CNKI(1911 to March 2011), EMBASE(1966 to March 2011), and Medline(1950 to March 2011) were searched to identify randomized controlled trials assessing the benefit of fluorouracil implants on colorectal cancer. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane's tool for assessing bias. RevMan5.0 was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTSSixteen studies were included(n=1223). The quality of included studies was moderate. Fluorouracil implants could reduce the 2-year mortality(RR=0.33. 95% CI:0.18-0.59), 2-year metastasis rate(RR=0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.66), and 2-year recurrence rate(RR=0.48, 95% CI:0.36-0.65). There were no significant differences in complications and adverse effects between fluorouracil implants and the control group.

CONCLUSIONSCurrent evidence demonstrates that fluorouracil implants may modestly improve the outcome of colorectal cancer patients without increasing its adverse events. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the risk of bias of included studies.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-based combination therapies are standard treatments for gastrointestinal cancer, where the modulation of autophagy is becoming increasingly important in offering effective treatment for patients in clinical practice. This review focuses on the role of autophagy in 5-FU-induced tumor suppression and cancer therapy in the digestive system.

DATA SOURCESAll articles published in English from 1996 to date those assess the synergistic effect of autophagy and 5-FU in gastrointestinal cancer therapy were identified through a systematic online search by use of PubMed. The search terms were "autophagy" and "5-FU" and ("colorectal cancer" or "hepatocellular carcinoma" or "pancreatic adenocarcinoma" or "esophageal cancer" or "gallbladder carcinoma" or "gastric cancer").

STUDY SELECTIONCritical reviews on relevant aspects and original articles reporting in vitro and/or in vivo results regarding the efficiency of autophagy and 5-FU in gastrointestinal cancer therapy were reviewed, analyzed, and summarized. The exclusion criteria for the articles were as follows: (1) new materials (e.g., nanomaterial)-induced autophagy; (2) clinical and experimental studies on diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers in digestive system cancers; and (3) immunogenic cell death for anticancer chemotherapy.

RESULTSMost cell and animal experiments showed inhibition of autophagy by either pharmacological approaches or via genetic silencing of autophagy regulatory gene, resulting in a promotion of 5-FU-induced cancer cells death. Meanwhile, autophagy also plays a pro-death role and may mediate cell death in certain cancer cells where apoptosis is defective or difficult to induce. The dual role of autophagy complicates the use of autophagy inhibitor or inducer in cancer chemotherapy and generates inconsistency to an extent in clinic trials.

CONCLUSIONAutophagy might be a therapeutic target that sensitizes the 5-FU treatment in gastrointestinal cancer.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic ; therapeutic use ; Autophagy ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical effects of the mixture of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and triamcinolone acetonide on capillary hemangioma of eyelid. METHODS: One hundred and one patients with capillary hemangioma of eyelid were divided into Group A and Group B: Group A was injected with triamcinolone acetonide, and Group B was injected the mixture of 5-FU and triamcinolone acetonide. RESULTS: The cure rate was 68.3%, the total effective rate was 76.0%, and the average course of treatment was (8.1+/-3.4) months for Group A; the cure rate was 90.0%, the total effective rate was 96.6%, and the average course of treatment was (5.1+/-2.3) months for Group B. The therapeutic effect in Group B was better than that in Group A (P<0.05). The treatment period in Group B was shorter than that in Group A (P<0.05). CONCLUSION 5-FU combining with triamcinolone acetonide has not only a better therapeutic effect, but also a shorter period of treatment.
Eyelid Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; therapeutic use

Chemotherapy is expected to play an important role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer because most of pancreatic cancers are being discovered at locally advanced or metastatic stages and recurrence rate is high even after the curative resection. Gemcitabine is a key agent for the first-line therapy of advanced pancreatic cancer. It can enhance the quality of life and prolong the survival of patients. Combination of erlotinib or capecitabine with gemcitabine showed a marginal survival benefit over single-agent gemcitabine. If patient's performance state is good, gemcitabine-based platinum combination therapy showed overall survival benefit compared with gemcitabine monothrapy. If the first-line palliative chemotherapy fails, 5-FU, capcitabine, or tegafur with or without combination can be used as the second-line agents. Adjuvant chemotherapy using 5-FU or gemcitabine after curative resection has overall survival benefit. However, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has not been proven to be effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
Antimetabolites/therapeutic use ; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/therapeutic use ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Fluorouracil/analogs & derivatives/therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/*drug therapy ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use ; Quinazolines/therapeutic use