[Pharmacokinetic study of UFT in cancer patients receiving maintenance dialysis]

Six post-operative cancer patients receiving chronic dialysis (4 colorectal and 2 gastric cancer) were given daily UFT (300 mg/day tid). To determine the clearance of UFT with dialysis, the plasma concentration of tegafur, 5-FU and uracil were measured on the day with dialysis and without dialysis. The plasma concentrations of tegafur at 2 hours after oral administration of UFT showed no difference between the day with dialysis and without dialysis. The concentration of 5-FU on the next day with dialysis was almost same as that of the patients with normal renal function because of the clearance of 5-FU with dialysis, although that on the 2nd day after dialysis was higher than that with dialysis. It was difficult to compare the plasma concentrations of uracil, because they are different in each patient. Therefore, it was considered to be difficult to maintain the suitable plasma concentration of uracil. However, clearance of UFT with dialysis was good and no severe side effect was observed in administration of UFT. These data suggest that UFT can be useful drug for gastrointestinal cancer patients receiving dialysis in a post-operative adjuvant chemotherapy.