Gastrointestinal Cancer

LISBON, Portugal--Although folinic acid and interferon have been shown to heighten the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in colorectal cancer, the ability of these biochemical modulators to prolong survival is less certain. Now a prospective randomized trial conducted in Germany has revealed that patients with advanced, symptomatic colorectal cancer who are treated with 5-FU and folinic acid live longer and have a better quality of life than do those who receive 5-FU and interferon.

Carcinoma of the gallbladder is a rare malignancy, with an incidence rate in the United States of 2.2 to 4.4 per 100,000 persons. Its clinical presentation is nonspecific, and the majority of patients have advanced disease at