[Two cases of gastrointestinal cancers with major responses to sequential methotrexate 5-FU plus 5'-DFUR]

We reported 2 patients treated with Methotrexate (MTX)-Fluorouracil (5-FU) sequential therapy combined with Doxifluridine (5'-DFUR). The method of administration was as follows: MTX 60 mg was given intravenously (iv) followed by 5-FU 600 mg iv 2 hours later in colon cancer and 5 hours later in gastric cancer. Leucovorin 20 mg was administered 3 times every 6 hours beginning 6 hours after 5-FU infusion. This cycle was repeated once a week for 5 weeks. 5'-DFUR 1,200 mg was given orally daily and continued after MTX.5-FU therapy. Patient 1 was a 60-yr-old female with recurrent colon cancer developed four years after sigmoidectomy. She was referred to our hospital for further examinations of elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The enlarged intraabdominal lymph nodes due to recurrence were demonstrated on computer tomography and the chemotherapy was performed as described above. The swelling of lymph nodes showed marked reduction in size and CEA value was normalized. Patient 2 was a 59-yr-old man with advanced gastric cancer accompanied by giant liver metastasis. Both primary and metastatic lesion responded favorably to this regimen. There was no remarkable side effect in either patient. These results suggest that this method is worth performing in further clinical trials for cancer patients.