Standard chemotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancies based on evidence
Sasaki, T.; Maeda, Y.; Kobayashi, T.; Okamoto, R.; Omuro, Y.; Takada, N.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 27(2): 166-176
2000
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 10700886 Document Number: 515246
It has been said that there is no standard chemotherapy for gastrointestinal malignancies. However, standard guidelines are essential to increase the level of medical treatment, and the death rate from gastrointestinal malignancies is very high in Japan. FAMTX, standard therapy for gastric cancer abroad, cannot be standard in Japan due to its toxicities. A combination of 5-FU and cisplatin (FP) is most commonly used as the the first choice for chemotherapy, but it's regimens vary. For colon cancer, it is said that a combination of 5-FU and Leucovorin (LV) is standard, but CPT-11, made in Japan, is a promising agent. There is no recommended drug for advanced pancreatic cancer, so palliative care or no chemotherapy are also available alternatives.