Combination therapy with mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil, and cytosine arabinoside for nonresectable malignant tumor in man. 1978

T Yamaguchi, and M Nakamura

The effectiveness of MFC (mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil and cytosine arabinoside) therapy for nonresectable cancers and cancers recurring after surgery was investigated in 60 patients with solid cancers aged 26 to 69 years. Treatment was effective in 28 patients (47%) including seven (12%) who showed a very good response. Side effects included anorexia, vomiting, melena, anemia, decreased leukocyte and platelet counts, and impaired renal function. In particular, hemorrhage of the digestive tract should be watched carefully during MFC therapy. MFC therapy is suitable for solid tumors of the breast and digestive organs, especially with metastases to the lymph nodes. Response to treatment is generally seen after 6--10 doses. If there is no response at this time, treatment should be changed. In cases where induction of remission is successful, maintenance therapy should be continued keeping the frequency of administration to a minimum. Remission is readily induced with MFC therapy, but because of the problems of hemorrhage of the digestive tract, and bone marrow suppression, its use for outpatient treatment is not considered safe. Therefore, alternative treatment should be given for long term maintenance of remission. FAMT (5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide-endoxan, mitomycin C, chromomycin A3 -toyomycin) therapy is considered safe and suitable for maintenance therapy in outpatients. Three cases in which MFC therapy was very effective are described to illustrate the treatment program.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008551 Melena The black, tarry, foul-smelling FECES that contain degraded blood. Melenas
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008937 Mitomycins A group of methylazirinopyrroloindolediones obtained from certain Streptomyces strains. They are very toxic antibiotics used as ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS in some solid tumors. PORFIROMYCIN and MITOMYCIN are the most useful members of the group.
D009362 Neoplasm Metastasis The transfer of a neoplasm from one organ or part of the body to another remote from the primary site. Metastase,Metastasis,Metastases, Neoplasm,Metastasis, Neoplasm,Neoplasm Metastases,Metastases
D012075 Remission, Spontaneous A spontaneous diminution or abatement of a disease over time, without formal treatment. Spontaneous Healing,Spontaneous Regression,Spontaneous Remission,Healing, Spontaneous,Regression, Spontaneous,Spontaneous Healings,Spontaneous Regressions
D001853 Bone Marrow The soft tissue filling the cavities of bones. Bone marrow exists in two types, yellow and red. Yellow marrow is found in the large cavities of large bones and consists mostly of fat cells and a few primitive blood cells. Red marrow is a hematopoietic tissue and is the site of production of erythrocytes and granular leukocytes. Bone marrow is made up of a framework of connective tissue containing branching fibers with the frame being filled with marrow cells. Marrow,Red Marrow,Yellow Marrow,Marrow, Bone,Marrow, Red,Marrow, Yellow
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D003561 Cytarabine A pyrimidine nucleoside analog that is used mainly in the treatment of leukemia, especially acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia. Cytarabine is an antimetabolite antineoplastic agent that inhibits the synthesis of DNA. Its actions are specific for the S phase of the cell cycle. It also has antiviral and immunosuppressant properties. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p472) Ara-C,Arabinofuranosylcytosine,Arabinosylcytosine,Cytosine Arabinoside,Aracytidine,Aracytine,Cytarabine Hydrochloride,Cytonal,Cytosar,Cytosar-U,beta-Ara C,Ara C,Arabinoside, Cytosine,Cytosar U,beta Ara C
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug

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