Continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil, etoposide and cis-diamminedichloro platinum in patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary origin

We conducted a phase II clinical trial of 5-fluorouracil (5 day continuous infusion), cis-diammine-dichloroplatinum and etoposide in previously untreated patients with metastatic carcinoma of unknown primary origin. Of the thirty-six evaluable patients (21 adenocarcinoma, 14 undifferentiated carcinoma and 1 squamous cell carcinoma), eight patients responded to this treatment (4 CR, 4 PR). Responses were seen in both soft tissue and visceral disease. Toxicity was significant and included grade III/IV myelosuppression in over 90% of patients treated. Non-hematologic toxicity included nausea/vomiting and stomatitis. Although the remissions obtained in this study appear to be durable (median duration of complete remission >24 months), the regimen does not appear to offer significant advantages over other less toxic and more easily administered cisplatin-based combinations.