[Relationship between tissue concentrations of 5-FU and degeneration of tissues after UFT administration in patients...

The relationship between the 5-FU concentration and tissue degeneration was studied in the bladder tumor tissue after UFT administration. In 12 patients with bladder tumor, UFT 400 mg/day was administered orally for about 2 weeks before TUR, and tegaful, 5-FU and uracil concentrations were examined in the blood and the tumor tissue taken about 6 hours after the last administration. Tumor tissue was also taken before and after the UFT administration, and the degree of cell degeneration due to UFT administration were evaluated by light and electron microscopy. The 5-FU concentration was significantly higher in the tumor tissue (0.078 +/- 0.091 microgram/g) than in the serum (0.017 +/- 0.010 microgram/ml). Signs of degeneration were observed in tumor cells after UFT administration in all 6 patients in whom the tumor tissue 5-FU concentration was 0.046 microgram/g or higher. Mitosis was not increased after UFT administration in any of the 12 patients.