International Journal of Hematology and Oncology 2023, Vol 33, Num 4 Page(s): 029-036
5-FLUOROURACIL-BASED ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT OF COLORECTAL CANCER PATIENTS BETWEEN 1993 AND 2002

Işıl SOMALI1, İlhan ÖZTOP2, Mehmet FÜZÜN3, Ali KÜPELİOĞLU4, Funda OBUZ5, Müjde SOYTÜRK6, Uğur YILMAZ2

1Atatürk Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, İZMİR
2Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Onkoloji Enstitüsü, İZMİR
3Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Genel Cerrahi Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR
4Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Patoloji Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR
5Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Radyodiagnostik Anabilim Dalı, İZMİR
6Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları ABD, Gastroenteroloji Bilim Dalı, İZMİR

Keywords: Colorectal cancer, Adjuvant chemotherapy, 5-fluorouracil-based
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality and approximately one-third of patients have advanced disease at presentation. Of the remainder, about half of them eventually relapse following potentially curative surgery. So, an effective chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting is essential. In this study, we have evaluated retrospectively the 5-flurorouracil (5-FU)-based adjuvant chemotherapy results in colorectal patients for ten years.


We reviewed data of 146 patients who received 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer between October 1993 and December 2002 for the efficacy, tolerability and toxicity. Sixty-five patients (44.5%) had stage II and 81 (55.5%) had stage III disease. Fifty-two patients (35.6%) were treated with bolus 5-FU, while 94 patients (64.4%) were treated with infusional 5-FU. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicity and diarrhea were observed more frequently in bolus group than infusional group (6.3 vs 0.6% and 3.8 vs 0.6% respectively). The dose reduction was performed in 8 patients in both group. In survival analysis, there was not any significant difference between bolus and infusional treatment group. The 5-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates were 54.8% and 75.7% in whole group.


In conclusion, our results suggest that 5-FU-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimens were effective and tolerabl regimens; and seem to be equally in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients.