Mitomycin C plus carmofur (HCFU) adjuvant chemotherapy for noncuratively resected cases of colorectal carcinoma (interim report)

Abstract
In order to examine the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy employing Mitomycin C (MMC) and carmofur (HCFU) for patients with noncuratively resected colorectal carcinoma, a cooperative study was performed by 54 institutions in the Kyushu and Chugoku areas in Japan. The prospective randomized controlled study consisted of two groups, one receiving only MMC and the other receiving MMC as well as HCFU. Out of an original total of 200, 170 cases were evaluable. Concerning the 30-month survival rate, a better result was observed in the MMC+HCFU group than in the MMC only group (Z-test: p<0.05). Significantly better survival rates were obtained in those cases with disseminating peritoneal metastasis, hepatic metastasis and Stage V cancer in the MMC+HCFU group as when compared with the MMC only group (generalized Wilcoxon test: p<0.05). No significant side effects due to the combined administration of HCFU were recognized. The combined administration of MMC and HCFU were recognized. The combined administration of MMC and HCFU was suggested to be a safe and effective adjuvant chemotherapy in noncuratively resected cases of colorectal carcinoma.