FOLINIC ACID AND 5-FU COMBINED CHEMOTHERAPY IN METASTATIC AND LOCALLY ADVANCED COLORECTAL CANCER

In 1990 at İstanbul University Oncology Institute a prospective study was done to examine the efficacy of flurouracil and folinic acid combination on advanced colorectal cancer. At the beginning of the treatment, following three days continous infusion of folinic acid (80 mg/m2), 5-FU (450 mg/m2) was given as IV bolus injection. Following treatments were continued with same doses and given weekly. Preliminary results of the study were evaluated for 16 cases, partial response was obtained on 3 patients, minimal response was obtained on 1 patient and stabilization was obtained on 6 patients, 6 patients showed progression. Median progression period of the patients was 6.5 months. It is necessary to increase the number of patients in order to understand the real efficiacy of this treatment which has very few toxicities and outpatient applicability.