Oral uracil-tegafur: an alternative to intravenous 5-fluorouracil?

The fluoropyrimidines have been used in the treatment of a number of tumour types over the past 40 years. Particular attention has focused on the use of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in colorectal cancer for which, until recently, there has been a lack of other effective chemotherapy. In an attempt to optimise the efficacy of fluoropyrimidines, a number of approaches have been used. These include alternative methods of iv. scheduling, the use of co-factors and the development of oral compounds. The aim of oral agents is to satisfy patient preference while maintaining the efficacy of sustained drug exposure seen with prolonged or continuous infusions of iv. 5-FU. One such oral compound is uracil-tegafur (UFT), which combines tegafur (ftorafur, a 5-FU prodrug) and uracil in a 1:4 molar ratio. UFT first entered Phase I trials in Japan over 20 years ago but has only recently received significant exposure in Phase II and III trials. Results from a number of Phase III studies in Europe and in the US are now becoming available. With UFT recently approved for colorectal cancer in many European countries, although not in the US, it is timely to review the current situation and future prospects for this agent

Intracranial arterial aneurysms in childhood: case report Aneurismas arteriais intracranianos na infância: relato de caso

A case of an intracranial arterial aneurysm at internal carotid bifurcation in a 10-year-old girl is described with the special features of cerebral aneurysm which occur in children, comparing with the adults. We alert for the necessity of carefully operative technique in order to avoid damage and intraoperative rupture of the aneurysm due to the very thin vessel wall that this population can develop. Our recommendation is early surgery in these patients.<br>Relatamos o caso de aneurisma arterial intracraniano na bifurcação da carótida interna em menina de 10 anos de idade. As características especiais dos aneurismas intracranianos que acometem a faixa etária pediátrica são descritas, comparando com a faixa etária adulta. Alertamos a necessidade de emprego de técnica operatória microcirúrgica cautelosa para evitar lesão e ruptura intraoperatória do aneurisma, devido a parede do aneurisma geralmente ser muito fina na faixa etária pediátrica. Recomendamos cirurgia precoce nestes pacientes