BACKGROUND: The outlook for patients with advanced colorectal cancer remains poor. Recent reports of the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and alpha-interferon in colorectal cancer have suggested better response rates. One possible explanation for interaction between 5-FU and interferon is that interferon alters the pharmacokinetics of 5-FU, increasing plasma 5-FU levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate the possibility of interaction between the two agents, steady state 5-FU pharmacokinetics was evaluated in patients with colorectal cancer who received 5-FU by continuous i.v. infusion with and without concurrent administration of subcutaneous alpha-interferon. 5-FU levels were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were evaluated. There were 4 partial responses (15%). There was no significant difference in steady state 5-FU levels whether or not alpha-interferon was administered concurrently. CONCLUSION: Any synergistic activity that may exist between this combination of 5-FU and alpha-interferon is not simply due to altered 5-FU pharmacokinetics.
BACKGROUND: The outlook for patients with advanced colorectal cancer remains poor. Recent reports of the combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and alpha-interferon in colorectal cancer have suggested better response rates. One possible explanation for interaction between 5-FU and interferon is that interferon alters the pharmacokinetics of 5-FU, increasing plasma 5-FU levels. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate the possibility of interaction between the two agents, steady state 5-FU pharmacokinetics was evaluated in patients with colorectal cancer who received 5-FU by continuous i.v. infusion with and without concurrent administration of subcutaneous alpha-interferon. 5-FU levels were measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were evaluated. There were 4 partial responses (15%). There was no significant difference in steady state 5-FU levels whether or not alpha-interferon was administered concurrently. CONCLUSION: Any synergistic activity that may exist between this combination of 5-FU and alpha-interferon is not simply due to altered 5-FU pharmacokinetics.
Authors: G Milano; J L Fischel; M C Etienne; N Renée; P Formento; A Thyss; M H Gaspard; L Thill; D Cupissol Journal: Cancer Chemother Pharmacol Date: 1994 Impact factor: 3.333
Authors: J K Joffe; T J Perren; C Bradley; J Primrose; S Hallam; U Ward; J M Illingworth; P J Selby Journal: Br J Cancer Date: 1997 Impact factor: 7.640