Mark J. Ratain, MD

Outline of Oncology Therapeutics is a well-written, concise, and up-to-date book providing detailed descriptions of a variety of medications and issues important to the overall care and treatment of patients with cancer. Oncology practice today

The use of alternative therapies in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy is a potentially important clinical issue. Most patients assume that alternative therapies are harmless since they are “not drugs” and, thus, do not have an established

Both cisplatin (Platinol) and fluorouracil (5-FU) have demonstrated single-agent clinical efficacy in a variety of solid neoplasms. The combination of these agents has revealed synergistic cytotoxicity in models in vitro and in vivo, which may explain the clinical effectiveness of 5-FU-cisplatin regimens. UFT (tegafur and uracil) and bis-aceto-ammine-dichloro-cyclohexyl-amine platinum (IV) (JM-216) are novel oral analogues of 5-FU and cisplatin, respectively. In preclinical models, JM-216 has demonstrated equivalent cytotoxicity to cisplatin, while phase I trials suggest its dose-limiting toxicity is myelosuppression. In contrast to cisplatin, JM-216 has not demonstrated significant neurotoxicity or nephrotoxicity. UFT has been used extensively in Japan, where phase II data suggest disease response rates similar to single-agent 5-FU in colorectal, gastric, and breast carcinomas. Combination studies of prolonged administration UFT and single-dose cisplatin have shown efficacy, but also significant hematologic toxicity. We propose a phase I study of UFT and JM-216 administered daily over 14 consecutive days with leucovorin (90 mg/d). Ease of administration and continuous drug exposure are potential advantages of this regimen. Several disease specific investigations may be warranted given demonstrated feasibility in this phase I study.[ONCOLOGY 11(Suppl 10):26-29, 1997]