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New vistas for leucovorin in cancer chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Archie Bleyer W.
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+<995::aid-cncr2820631302>3.0.co;2-r
Subject(s) - medicine , chemotherapy , methotrexate , cancer , fluorouracil , oncology , therapeutic index , pharmacology , drug
With a resurgence of interest in leucovorin calcium (LV), many questions about its role in cancer chemotherapy are being asked again. How does it modulate 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) therapy? Can it potentiate the cytotoxicity of 5‐FU more in malignant than in normal cells? Does it rescue tumor cells from high‐dose methotrexate (MTX) more than it does normal cells? How should LV rescue be individualized to maximize the therapeutic index? When can LV be administered orally, and how can LV rescue be conducted at home? When is LV rescue necessary, and what toxicities occur when it is inadequate? Some answers to these questions are provided in this review.