[A case of multiple lung metastases of sigmoid colon cancer responding well to oral UFT+leucovorin therapy].

Chemotherapy combining 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with leucovorin is now used as a standard regimen for chemotherapy of inoperative, recurrent or distantly-metastasized colorectal carcinoma. We recently treated a patient with multiple metastases of sigmoid colon cancer by sigmoidectomy and oral drug therapy using a combination of Uzel (dl-leucovorin) and UFT (uracil and tegafur). Three courses of this therapy were administered, with each course consisting of treatment for 4 consecutive week (UFT 400 mg/day, Uzel 75 mg/day) and a one week interval between successive courses. The therapy resulted in marked reduction of tumor and this response was rated as PR (partial response). The lower lobe of the right lung, which showed the largest tumor (34.5 x 35.7 mm), was resected, and the upper lobe of the same lung, showing a small metastastic tumor (4.4 x 4.6 mm), was partially resected. Oral chemotherapy, which had begun before surgery, was continued after lobectomy and partial pneumonectomy. To date (January 15, 2005), the patient has received 5 courses of this therapy and has shown no signs of tumor exacerbation. Because this therapy has allowed satisfactory control of metastatic tumor for about one year since surgery without causing any adverse reaction or requiring re-hospitalization, it is fair to say that the therapy has successfully maintained the quality of life (QOL) of this patient.