[Sequential treatment of progressive metastatic colorectal cancer with 5-fluorouracil/folinic acid, dipyramidole and mitomycin C].

A number of reports have described enhanced therapeutic activity of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) when combined with high-dose folinic acid (dl-CF). In the present phase-II study 35 patients with colorectal cancer were entered into a first-line chemotherapeutic protocol consisting of dl-CF 200 mg/m2 i.v. push directly followed by 340 mg/m2 5-FU i.v. pushon - days 1-5. Thus far a response rate of 37.5% (12 PR) has been achieved, and minor responses or no change were registered in 43.7% (14 MR or NC), lowering the rate of primary therapeutic failures to 18.8%. Median time to progression was 6.2 months. Toxic side effects consisted mainly of diarrhea, nausea and mucositis. As second-line therapy 5-FU/dl-CF and dipyramidole p.o. were administered to 10 patients with resulting 4 NC. Mitomycin C was given to 9 patients as a third-line regimen with resulting 5 NC for 2-4 months.