ABDUL QAYYUM

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The prognosis in case of advanced gallbladder cancer is poor and till now there is no standard regimen for the treatment of advanced disease. We evaluate the impact of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) and Folinic Acid on survival and quality of life of patients with advanced carcinoma of gallbladder.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of all patients, including quality of life questionnaire, reviewed. These patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of gallbladder were seen in oncology clinic at ZIauddin Hospital Nazimabad Karachi from January 1997 to December 1998. These patients received combination of 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) and Folinic Acid daily for five days. RESULTS: Out of twenty patients, two (10%) were males and eighteen (90%) were females. Overall survival was 6.8 (+3.7) months, and median survival of six months. There was no major impact of chemotherapy on improving quality of life, however in eleven (55%) patients, few symptoms was relieved for a mean duration of 5.9 (+ 3.3) months.

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Prof. Dr. Farah Mansuri
editor@annals-ashkmdc.org

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