BACKGROUND
To improve the prognosis of patients with urachal cancer and establish an effective chemotherapeutic regimen for distant metastases.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a modified combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (mFOLFOX6) therapy in patients with metastatic urachal cancer.
RESULTS
Five patients were treated with mFOLFOX6. Their median age was 65 years (range 41-80). The median follow-up time was 42 months (range 18-46). Two of the 5 patients (40%) showed an objective response: 1 achieved a clinically complete response and 1 a partial response. The grade 3/4 toxicity associated with this regimen was primarily neutropenia, but febrile neutropenia was not observed. Oxaliplatin treatment was discontinued because of a grade 2 allergic reaction in 1 patient. Grade 2 peripheral sensory neuropathy caused by oxaliplatin was observed in 2 patients, and the OPTIMOX (stop and go) approach had to be adopted.
CONCLUSIONS
mFOLFOX6 appears to be effective for the treatment of metastatic urachal cancer.