Relationship between 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dose intensity and therapeutic response in patients with advanced colorectal cancer receiving infusional therapy containing 5-FU

BACKGROUND. A phase II prospective trial was carried out to study the concept of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dose-intensity in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Forty patients were treated with 5-FU plus leucovorin (LV), with individually increasing doses of 5-FU. A 5-FU pharmacokinetic follow up was performed and a relationship was sought between its metabolism and its response to treatment, and between 5-FU's toxicity and patient survival. METHODS. 5-FU was administered weekly by 8 hour continuous infusion. The initial dose of 1000 mg/m(2) was individually increased every 3 weeks by 250 mg/m(2) steps, potentiated by 400 mg/m(2) LV. 5-FU plasma concentrations were determined weekly by liquid chromatography. RESULTS. Eighteen overall objective responses and 22 minor responses, stabilizations, or progressions (NR) were observed. 5-FU plasma levels were significantly higher in cases of complete or partial response, whatever the dose. They reached about 2000 mu g/l as early as the second dose level (1250 mg/m(2)). Only seven patients who experienced NR reached equivalent levels after the fourth step (1750 mg/m(2)). High 5-FU plasma levels were predictive of an objective response and better survival (difference not significant). The acute toxicity, whatever the type, was correlated with 5-FU levels >3000 mu g/l and not with the dose. CONCLUSIONS. This study shows the wide variability of 5-FU metabolism, whatever the dose, the clear relationship between 5-FU plasma levels, toxicity, and efficacy. This relationship points out the problem of the polymorphism of 5-FU metabolism, the usefulness of the therapeutic range determination and the usefulness of the individual 5-FU dose adaptation. (C) 1996 American Cancer Society.