Colorectal cancer

Indication for Fluorouracil

Population group: Suitable for both men and women, only adults (18 years old or older)

For this indication, competent medicine agencies globally authorize below treatments:

200-600 mg/m²

Route of admnistration

Intravenous

Defined daily dose

200 - 600 mg per m² of body surface area (BSA)

Dosage regimen

From 200 To 600 mg per m² of body surface area (BSA) once every day

Detailed description

5-fluorouracil is used in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers in a number of treatment regimens. 5-fluorouracil is preferably used along with folinic acid. Commonly used treatment regimens also combine 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid with other chemotherapeutic agents such as Irinotecan (FOLFIRI and FLIRI), Oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) or both Irinotecan and Oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX).

The commonly used dose range of 5-fluorouracil varies from 200-600mg/m² of body surface. The dose also varies depending administration as intravenous bolus or as continuous intravenous infusion.

The dose schedules also vary depending on the chemotherapy regimen, and 5-fluorouracil dose could be repeated weekly, bimonthly or monthly.

The number of cycles varies with the treatment regimens used and also depends on the clinical decision based on treatment success and tolerability.

Active ingredient

Fluorouracil is an antineoplastic anti-metabolite. Anti-metabolites masquerade as purine or pyrimidine – which become the building blocks of DNA. They prevent these substances from becoming incorporated into DNA during the “S” phase (of the cell cycle), stopping normal development and division. Fluorouracil blocks an enzyme which converts the cytosine nucleotide into the deoxy derivative. In addition, DNA synthesis is further inhibited because Fluorouracil blocks the incorporation of the thymidine nucleotide into the DNA strand. Fluorouracil is used for the topical treatment of multiple actinic or solar keratoses. In the 5% strength it is also useful in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinomas when conventional methods are impractical, such as with multiple lesions or difficult treatment sites. Fluorouracil injection is indicated in the palliative management of some types of cancer, including colon, esophageal, gastric, rectum, breast, biliary tract, stomach, head and neck, cervical, pancreas, renal cell, and carcinoid.

Read more about Fluorouracil

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