Phase I-II trial of high-dose calcium leucovorin and 5-fluorouracil in advanced colorectal cancer.

Twenty-six patients with metastatic colorectal adenocarcinoma were entered into a Phase I-II study of 5-fluorouracil (5-FUra)-high-dose leucovorin (CF). The starting dose of 5-FUra was 300 mg/sq m with escalation to 750 mg/sq m/week in 6 doses given by rapid i.v. injection midway during a 2-hr infusion of CF, 500 mg/sq m. Partial responses were seen in 9 of 23 patients (6 of 12 who had had previous 5-FUra). Complete normalization of liver enzymes was seen in two of these patients. Side effects were seen sporadically with 5-FUra doses up to 600 mg/sq m. At a 600-mg/sq m 5-FUra dose, 8 of 18 patients had diarrhea, and 2 of 18 had white blood cell counts less than 3000/microliter. At a 750-mg/sq m dose of 5-FUra, 6 of 11 patients had severe diarrhea and 6 of 11 had white blood cell counts less than 3000/microliter. Other toxicities were mild conjunctivitis and lacrimation, thinning of the nails, and alopecia. In bioavailability studies of CF p.o., no plasma CF could be detected. After CF i.v., mean plasma peak was 111.3 +/- 40.3 (S.D.) microM. 5-FUra-CF appears to be effective in patients clinically resistant to 5-FUra. This study is being extended to randomized trial of 5-FUra-CF versus 5-FUra alone.