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BMC Cancer
Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Research

Using oral tegafur/uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colorectal cancer: a propensity score matching study from Taiwan

Authors: Yen-Lin Yu, Wen-Ko Tseng, Chun-Kai Liao, Chien-Yuh Yeh, Hong-Hwa Chen, Yu-Hsuan Liu, Yu-Wei Liaw, Chung-Wei Fan

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Early-stage colorectal cancer had excellent outcomes after curative resection, typically. However, a perplexing survival paradox between stage II and stage III was noted. This paradox could be influenced by the administration of routine postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of high-risk factors in stage II CRC. The objective of the study was to investigate the influence of high-risk factors on patients with stage II CRC and assess the efficacy of oral tegafur/uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II CRC patients.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted using propensity score matching at a single medical institution. A total of 1544 patients with stage II colorectal cancer who underwent radical surgery between January 2004 and January 2009 were included. The intervention used was tegafur/uracil plus leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy. The main outcome measures were disease-free survival and overall survival.

Results

After propensity score matching, 261 patients were included in three groups: no-treatment, half-year treatment, and one-year treatment. The clinical characteristics of each group tended to be more consistent. The Cox proportional hazard models showed that tegafur/uracil treatment or not was a significant independent factor for oncological outcome. Kaplan–Meier analysis also showed significantly better disease-free survival and overall survival. Further investigation revealed that tegafur/uracil duration was an independent factor for oncological outcome. While the survival curve did not reach statistical significance, the one-year UFT treatment group demonstrated the best treatment trend.

Conclusions

This study suggests that tegafur/uracil plus leucovorin is a feasible adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for patients with stage II colorectal cancer after curative surgical treatment. Prolonged tegafur/uracil plus leucovorin treatment for 12 months showed a trend towards better outcomes in patients with stage II colorectal cancer.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Using oral tegafur/uracil (UFT) plus leucovorin as adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II colorectal cancer: a propensity score matching study from Taiwan
Authors
Yen-Lin Yu
Wen-Ko Tseng
Chun-Kai Liao
Chien-Yuh Yeh
Hong-Hwa Chen
Yu-Hsuan Liu
Yu-Wei Liaw
Chung-Wei Fan
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-023-11310-6

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