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5‐fluorouracil with leucovorin in breast cancer
Author(s) -
Loprinzi Charles L.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19890315)63:6+<1045::aid-cncr2820631310>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - medicine , fluorouracil , breast cancer , oncology , metastatic breast cancer , colorectal cancer , therapeutic index , chemotherapy , clinical trial , cancer , breast carcinoma , pharmacology , drug
Extensive preclinical data have demonstrated that leucovorin can modulate 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) cytotoxicity. Additionally, randomized clinical trials have shown that leucovorin increases the therapeutic index of 5‐FU in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, setting a new therapeutic standard for this disease. Based on this information, several controlled, but nonrandomized, clinical trials have examined the combination of 5‐FU and leucovorin in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Although many of these trials are still ongoing, preliminary information suggests that leucovorin also potentiates 5‐FU activity against breast carcinoma. However, to date, it has not been shown that leucovorin increases the therapeutic index of 5‐FU in these patients. Continued testing of the role of leucovorin in combination chemotherapy for breast cancer appears warranted.