Pharmacological data and technical feasibility of intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil administration

Via a surgically implanted Tenckhoff catheter, 5-fluorouracil was intraperitoneally administered to patients with malignant disease confined to abdominal space. Treatment was well tolerated without local complications. Peritoneal and plasmatic drug levels were measured, showing that: 1) peritoneal drug levels declined as a first order function; 2) plasmatic levels were very close to those reported for continuous i.v. administration, but peritoneal concentrations were much higher (log 1 to 3); 3) concentration x time product had a peritoneum: plasma ratio ranging from 120 to 1350. The hypothesized role of intraperitoneal 5-fluorouracil administration and the questions still to be answered are summarized.