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Annals of Oncology Advance Access published online on April 1, 2008
Annals of Oncology, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdn067
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

review

UFT (tegafur–uracil) in rectal cancer

E. Casado1,*, P. Pfeiffer2, J. Feliu3, M. González-Barón3, L. Vestermark2 and H. A. Jensen2

1 Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Infanta Sofía, Madrid, Spain
2 Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
3 Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain

* Correspondence to: Dr E. Casado, Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Infanta Sofía, Paseo de Europa, 34, 28702 San Sebastián de los Reyes, Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34-647420771; Fax: +34-917277118; E-mail: enriquecasado{at}hotmail.com

Background: Major achievements in the treatment of localised rectal cancer include the development of total mesorectal excision and the perioperative administration of radiotherapy in combination with continuous infusion (CI) 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This multimodal approach has resulted in extended survival and lower local relapse rates, with the potential for sphincter-preserving procedures. However, CI 5-FU is inconvenient for patients and is costly. Oral fluoropyrimidines like UFT (tegafur–uracil) offer a number of advantages over 5-FU.

Methods: We undertook a review of published articles and abstracts relating to clinical studies of UFT in the treatment of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Pre- and postoperative studies carried out in patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent disease were included.

Results: The combination of UFT and radiotherapy was effective and well tolerated in the preoperative setting, while adjuvant UFT improved survival and reduced distant relapse compared with surgery alone. The efficacy of UFT appears comparable with that of 5-FU and capecitabine and its side-effect profile is favourable.

Conclusion: Clinical experience to date suggests that UFT is a valuable treatment option for the perioperative treatment of LARC. Further improvements in patient outcomes may result from the combination of UFT with targeted agents.

Chemoradiotherapy, oral fluoropyrimidines, rectal cancer, tegafur-uracil, UFT

Received for publication August 9, 2007. Revision received February 21, 2008. Accepted for publication February 22, 2008.


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