ISSN:
1437-7772
Keywords:
Rectal cancer
;
Adjuvant chemotherapy
;
Disease-free survival
;
Mitomycin C
;
UFT
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background. This study was conducted to evaluate the significance of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy using mitomycin C (MMC) and UFT (tegafur; uracil at 1:4 molar ratio) in combination for rectal cancer. Methods. The Japanese Foundation for Multidisciplinary Treatment of Cancer conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial in 834 patients who had undergone curative resection for rectal cancer (T3 or T4 and/or Nl, N2, or N3 according to TNM classification) from February 1986 to December 1988. The patients were randomly allocated to a treatment group (MMC/UFT, 416 patients) and a control group (surgery alone, 418 patients). For the patients in the treatment group, 20 mg of MMC was sprinkled on the operating field upon completion of surgery. MMC was injected intravenously (6 mg/m2) on day 7, and then once a month for months 1–6 after surgery. UFT was administered at 400mg/day, orally, for 1 year, beginning 3 weeks after surgery. Results. There was no difference, in the 5-year survival rate between the two groups, but the 5-year disease-free survival rate in the MMC/UFT group (68.9%) was significantly higher than that (59.3%) in the control group (P = 0.006). The 5-year cumulative local recurrence rate was significantly lower in the MMC/UFT group (11.6%) than in the control group (19.0%) (P = 0.007). Conclusion. We conclude that the adjuvant use of longterm oral UFT and intermittent MMC (i.v.) improves the disease-free survival rate of patients with curatively resected rectal cancer (T3 or T4 and/or N1, N2, or N3).
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00539213
Permalink
