Weekly 5-fluorouracil and interferon-alfa-2b in metastatic cancer

Twenty-four patients with advanced cancer were treated with 5-Fluorouracil 600 mg/m2 intravenously and interferon-alfa-2b 3 MU subcutaneously both given weekly for 6 weeks followed by a 2-week hiatus. The median age of patients treated on this study was 66 years. Mild to moderate leukopenia, nausea/emesis, and anemia were the most common toxicities. There were no treatment-related deaths and only 1 episode of grade IV toxicity (leukopenia in a patient who was receiving concurrent radiation therapy). Two complete responses, 7 partial responses and 1 prolonged minor response (pancreas cancer--12+ months) have been seen. Weekly 5-FU and interferon is well-tolerated and shows activity in selected patients with advanced cancer.