levoleucovorin and carmofur

In Western countries, efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)+leucovorin (LV) as adjuvant chemotherapy for colorectal cancer has been already established. Recently, large multicenter randomized controlled trials evaluating value of new regimens such as oxaliplatin+5-FU+LV, capecitabine, and uracil-tegafur (UFT)+LV, as compared with 5- FU+LV, have been conducted. Such trials are yielding evidence for, and are establishing new standard adjuvant chemotherapy. In Japan,we have a long history of oral prodrugs of 5-FU. We are also recently observing efficacy of oral regimen including UFT and carmofur in each trials or meta-analysis. Accordingly, we have become to have, and to report our own evidence. Although further integration of targeted compounds including cetuximab and bevacizumab into adjuvant therapy may be promising, cost issues may also emerge.

Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Colorectal Neoplasms; Drug Combinations; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fluorouracil; Guidelines as Topic; Humans; Leucovorin; Lymph Node Excision; Neoplasm Staging; Survival Rate; Tegafur; Uracil