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Leucovorin and fluorouracil vs levamisole and fluorouracil as adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer. 2004

N Tsavaris, and K Gennatas, and C Kosmas, and H M Skopelitis, and P Gouveris, and A Dimitrakopoulos, and M Zacharakis, and G Kouraklis, and J Vasiliou, and E Felekouras, and D Voros, and G Zografos, and M Balafouta, and M Paraskevaidis, and M Safioleas, and K Fotiadis, and G Papastratis, and G Karatzas, and E Papalambros
Department of Pathophysiology, University of Athens, School of Medicine, 'Laikon' General Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece. tsavari1@otenet.gr

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 6-month therapy with leucovorin (LV) + 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) vs 12 months of therapy with levamisole (LVZ) + 5-FU, as adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with completely resected Dukes' stage B2 or C rectal cancer. One hundred and fifty patients with surgically resected rectal carcinoma, were enrolled in the present study; Dukes' stage B2 (n=70) or C (n=80), were randomly assigned to chemotherapy with 5-FU + LV x 6 months or 5-FU + LVZ x 12 months. Patient characteristics were equally balanced between the examined groups. Adjuvant CT consisted of LV 20 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) plus 5-FU 450 mg/m(2) i.v., on days 1-5 every 4 weeks for 6 cycles or 5-FU 450 mg/m(2) i.v. every week plus LVZ 50 mg t.i.d x 3 days for 1 year. All patients received radiotherapy with a three-field technique to a total dose of 45 Gy, over 5 weeks. After a median follow-up of 7.4 years there were no significant differences between the two treatment groups with respect to the recurrence rates (P=0.821). Moreover, there was no difference in disease-free survival for patients stage Dukes' B2 (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 90 (8-131) months, and for LVZ group 86.5 (3-129) months. No difference was noted in disease-free survival for patients stage Dukes' C (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 60 (17-128) months, and for LVZ group 64 (2-123) months. There was no difference in overall survival for patients stage Dukes' B2 (log-rank p=0.75); median for LV group 90 (22-131) months, and for LVZ group 86 (10-129) months. For stage Dukes' C (log-rank p=0.73); median for LV group 67 (17-128) months, and for LVZ group 64 (5-123) months. Toxicities were as follows in the 5-FU + LVZ vs 5-FU + LV group; myelosuppression (leucopenia grade 3, 12% vs 4%, p<0.04), diarrhea (grade 0, 60% vs 76%, p<0.02), and liver toxicity (increase of transaminases >3-fold, 12 patients vs 2, p<0.03), were more frequent in LVZ group. None of the patients stopped chemotherapy because of the toxicity, and there were no toxicity-related deaths. In conclusion, adjuvant chemotherapy in RC with LV + 5-FU for 6 months is equally effective and less toxic than LVZ + 5-FU for 12 months.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007978 Levamisole An antihelminthic drug that has been tried experimentally in rheumatic disorders where it apparently restores the immune response by increasing macrophage chemotaxis and T-lymphocyte function. Paradoxically, this immune enhancement appears to be beneficial in rheumatoid arthritis where dermatitis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia, and nausea and vomiting have been reported as side effects. (From Smith and Reynard, Textbook of Pharmacology, 1991, p435-6) L-Tetramisole,Levotetramisole,Decaris,Dekaris,Levamisole Hydrochloride,Solaskil,Hydrochloride, Levamisole
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D009364 Neoplasm Recurrence, Local The local recurrence of a neoplasm following treatment. It arises from microscopic cells of the original neoplasm that have escaped therapeutic intervention and later become clinically visible at the original site. Local Neoplasm Recurrence,Local Neoplasm Recurrences,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrence,Neoplasm Recurrence, Locoregional,Neoplasm Recurrences, Local,Recurrence, Local Neoplasm,Recurrence, Locoregional Neoplasm,Recurrences, Local Neoplasm,Locoregional Neoplasm Recurrences,Neoplasm Recurrences, Locoregional,Recurrences, Locoregional Neoplasm
D009367 Neoplasm Staging Methods which attempt to express in replicable terms the extent of the neoplasm in the patient. Cancer Staging,Staging, Neoplasm,Tumor Staging,TNM Classification,TNM Staging,TNM Staging System,Classification, TNM,Classifications, TNM,Staging System, TNM,Staging Systems, TNM,Staging, Cancer,Staging, TNM,Staging, Tumor,System, TNM Staging,Systems, TNM Staging,TNM Classifications,TNM Staging Systems
D012004 Rectal Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the RECTUM. Cancer of Rectum,Rectal Cancer,Rectal Tumors,Cancer of the Rectum,Neoplasms, Rectal,Rectum Cancer,Rectum Neoplasms,Cancer, Rectal,Cancer, Rectum,Neoplasm, Rectal,Neoplasm, Rectum,Rectal Cancers,Rectal Neoplasm,Rectal Tumor,Rectum Cancers,Rectum Neoplasm,Tumor, Rectal
D002955 Leucovorin The active metabolite of FOLIC ACID. Leucovorin is used principally as an antidote to FOLIC ACID ANTAGONISTS. Calcium Leucovorin,Citrovorum Factor,Folinic Acid,N(5)-Formyltetrahydrofolate,5-Formyltetrahydrofolate,5-Formyltetrahydropteroylglutamate,Calcium Folinate,Folinic Acid-SF,Leucovorin, (D)-Isomer,Leucovorin, (DL)-Isomer,Leucovorin, (R)-Isomer,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt, (DL)-Isomer,Leucovorin, Calcium (1:1) Salt, Pentahydrate,Leucovorin, Monosodium Salt,Leukovorin,Leukovorum,Wellcovorin,5 Formyltetrahydrofolate,5 Formyltetrahydropteroylglutamate,Acid, Folinic,Factor, Citrovorum,Folinate, Calcium,Folinic Acid SF,Leucovorin, Calcium,Monosodium Salt Leucovorin
D005260 Female Females
D005472 Fluorouracil A pyrimidine analog that is an antineoplastic antimetabolite. It interferes with DNA synthesis by blocking the THYMIDYLATE SYNTHETASE conversion of deoxyuridylic acid to thymidylic acid. 5-FU,5-FU Lederle,5-FU Medac,5-Fluorouracil,5-Fluorouracil-Biosyn,5-HU Hexal,5FU,Adrucil,Carac,Efudex,Efudix,Fluoro-Uracile ICN,Fluoroplex,Fluorouracil Mononitrate,Fluorouracil Monopotassium Salt,Fluorouracil Monosodium Salt,Fluorouracil Potassium Salt,Fluorouracil-GRY,Fluorouracile Dakota,Fluorouracilo Ferrer Far,Fluoruracil,Fluracedyl,Flurodex,Haemato-FU,Neofluor,Onkofluor,Ribofluor,5 FU Lederle,5 FU Medac,5 Fluorouracil,5 Fluorouracil Biosyn,5 HU Hexal,Dakota, Fluorouracile,Fluoro Uracile ICN,Fluorouracil GRY,Haemato FU
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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