FUDR

entering my 9th year after a stage 4 OC diagnosis, posted many many times. After experiencing just about every drug out there including during the last 9 months - IP treatments of Topotean + Avastin & Cisplatin. The IP treatments have reduced my CA125 from over 5,000 to 1,600 and its been stable at that level. My doctor at NYU now feels IP Floxuridine is where we go next - 3 days straight every 3 - 4 weeks. Are you familar with this treatment and can provide some details or of the drug itself. My doctor says its more tolerable than the cisplatin/ topo treatments - which I hope is true because that treatmnet was really brutal. Other than the side effects of the treatments I generally feel great, work and am very active. Its the damn CA 125 that we are treating. Any thoughts you may have on Floxuridine administered IP would be appreciated - thanks  Judy

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Judy
thank you so much for writing.
I am not familiar with using this drug. I did a Google search. I have pasted the site that seemed the most informative:

http://www.chemocare.com/bio/floxuridine.asp

I also did a pubmed search on this and ovarian cancer- not much.I found an old study from 1997:

Gynecol Oncol. 1997 Aug;66(2):290-4.

Phase I/II study of intraperitoneal floxuridine and platinums (cisplatin and/or carboplatin).
Muggia FM, Jeffers S, Muderspach L, Roman L, Rosales R, Groshen S, Safra T, Morrow CP.

University of Southern California-Kenneth Norris, Jr., Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles 90033, USA.

Abstract
Previous studies have shown that intraperitoneal (i.p.) floxuridine (FUDR) is tolerated at a dose of 3 g x 3 days given in 1.5-2 L of normal saline (NS). In a randomized phase II trial by the Southwest Oncology Group, this treatment was selected for further study because of a favorable 1-year progression-free survival. We have now evaluated ip FUDR in full doses combined with i.p. cisplatin given on the third day at a dose of 60 mg/m2 in 500 mL of NS. Intraperitoneal carboplatin was partially or fully substituted for i.p. cisplatin in patients with symptomatic neuropathies. All patients also received i.p. leucovorin, as previously piloted for fluoropyrimidine modulation. Seven patients with symptomatic ascites or measurable tumors were entered, as were 11 asymptomatic patients with minimal residual (< or = 1 cm) epithelial ovarian cancer. Six cycles of the combination of i.p. FUDR + cisplatin were completed in three patients; however, the combination of FUDR with both platinums was particularly well tolerated. Intraperitoneal FUDR + carboplatin (AUC of 5) was associated with some grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Eight of these 11 patients are alive, and 3 have been continuously with no evidence of disease exceeding 32 months. The regimen of i.p. FUDR + i.p. cisplatin (or i.p. FUDR with both platinums) is suitable for a phase III trial testing i.p. therapy either from the outset (e.g., i.p. up front) or after achieving clinical complete responses from initial treatment without intervening relapse (i.e., i.p. consolidation) in comparison to i.p. cisplatin.

but I do not disagree with trying a drug that has a completely different mechanism of action. chemo is chemo - it kills cancer cells.I would vote for giving it a try. Your doctor has taken you through alot of hard times and is doing the best possible for you.
please keep in touch
take care