5-FU AND ALLOPURINOL - TOXICITY MODULATION AND PHASE II RESULTS IN COLON CANCER

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (5) , 1133-1137
Abstract
Concurrent administration of allopurinol allows escalation of 5-FU [5-fluorouracil] doses in humans when 5-FU is given by continuous infusion for 5 days. Patients (49) received 81 courses of treatment with 5-FU and allopurinol in phase I and II trials. The dose-limiting toxicity was mucositis; marrow toxicity was mild. Neurotoxicity, possibly related to 5-FU, occurred in 8 patients. No responses were seen in 14 evaluable patients with colon cancer, 11 of whom had had prior 5-FU. One patient with Hodgkin''s disease had a partial response; 1 patient with diffuse histiocytic lymphoma had transient disease regression. Although allopurinol does modify the toxicity of 5-FU, permitting dose escalation, it does not increase the therapeutic index in colon cancer. Infusional 5-FU deserves further study in lymphoma.

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