Oral HCFU for prevention of hepatic metastasis in an experimental colorectal carcinoma.

Background: An animal experimental study was performed to clarify the preventive effect of oral HCFU (1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil) on hepatic metastasis. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 BALB/C mice received intraportal injection of Colon 26 cancer cells followed by oral daily administration of HCFU to 5 groups divided according to the dose of HCFU, ranging from 0 (controls) to 7.5mg/Kg for 21 days. These groups were independently assigned to 3 sets to investigate survival rates and degree of hepatic metastasis. Results: Mean survivals in the treated groups were statistically longer than the controls except the 7.5mg/Kg group. HCFU 7.5 and 5 mg/Kg groups showed the minimum liver weight on the 12 th and 16 th day, respectively these were significantly smaller than those of controls (p< 0.0001 in both). Conclusion: It is considered that oral HCFU could effectively suppress hepatic metastasis of the colon 26 cancer cells and prolong the life of animals. This finding suggests the promising clinical application of oral HCFU for colorectal cancer after curative resection.