[Clinical studies on 5-fluorouracil suppository for rectal cancer]

Suppository of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) was administered preoperatively to 19 patients with rectal cancer. In the bioassay of 5-FU concentration in the rectal specimens, 5-FU was detected in the wall distant more than 20 cm from the anal ring, in the lymph nodes and in the blood of superior rectal vein. Ten of 19 cases were treated with suppository and 5-FU solution by intravenous injection at the same time, and the other 9 cases with suppository only. In the former group, 6 cases improved remarkably, and 3 cases in the latter group. Remarkable anticancer effect of 5-FU suppository was found in 9 of total 19 cases. Accordingly, it was suggested that the combination use of than suppository alone suppository and the systemic administration of 5-FU was more effective in cancer chemotherapy.