Low-dose cisplatin-5-fluorouracil prevents postoperative suppression of natural killer cell activity in patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The effect of administering low-dose cisplatin (CDDP)-5-fluorouracil (5-FU) postoperatively on the activity of the immune system is not known. To clarify the effect on natural killer (NK) cell activity of treatment with low-dose CDDP-5-FU, we compared NK cell activity after surgery for gastrointestinal cancer in patients treated with low-dose CDDP-5-FU, a bolus dose of mitomycin C (MMC) or no anticancer drug.

METHODS:

Sixty-two patients consisted of three groups: low-dose CDDP-5-FU (n = 15), MMC (n = 20) and no-drug (n = 27). Chemotherapy was initiated immediately after surgery. NK cell activity was measured on the day before surgery (pre-op) and on postoperative days 7 (POD7) and 21 (POD21).

RESULTS:

The NK cell activities of the CDDP-5-FU group were 37.7% at pre-op, 36.1% on POD7 and 33.6% on POD21. However, the NK cell activities in the no-drug and MMC groups were significantly decreased on POD7 (from 36.6 to 24.8% and from 31.4 to 16.6%, respectively). The NK cell activity in the MMC group remained depressed on POD21 (18.6%) whereas that in the no-drug group recovered (31.6%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Consecutive administration of low-dose CDDP-5-FU appears to be useful as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy because of its preventive effect on NK cell suppression after surgery.

• Authors: K Ishikawa, K Shimoda, N Shiraishi, Y Adachi, S Kitano
• Journal: Japanese journal of clinical oncology (Jpn J Clin Oncol) Vol. 28 Issue 6 Pg. 374-7 (Jun 1998) ISSN: 0368-2811 [Print] England
• PMID: 9730152 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cisplatin
• Fluorouracil

Topics

• Aged
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
• Cisplatin (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Colectomy
• Colonic Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, surgery)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Fluorouracil (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Gastrectomy
• Humans
• Killer Cells, Natural (drug effects, immunology)
• Leukopenia (chemically induced)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Postoperative Period
• Rectal Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, surgery)
• Rectum (surgery)
• Stomach Neoplasms (drug therapy, immunology, surgery)