FU-LV is an abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat colorectal cancer. It includes the drugs 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium. Learn more about this chemotherapy regimen.
Patient Receives Chemotherapy
Image by National Cancer Institute / Rhoda Baer (Photographer)
FU-LV Chemotherapy
What is FU-LV Chemotherapy?
This chemotherapy combination contains the drugs fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium. Combinations usually work better than single drugs because different drugs kill cancer cells in different ways.
Drugs in the FU-LV combination:
FU
= Fluorouracil
LV
= Leucovorin Calcium
Each of the drugs in this combination are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat cancer or conditions related to cancer.
Use in Cancer
FU-LV is used to treat:
Colorectal cancer.
Esophageal cancer.
Gastric cancer.
This combination may also be used with other drugs or treatments or to treat other types of cancer.
Source: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
FU = Fluorouracil
Fluorouracil Injection
Also called: Adrucil®, 5-Fluorouracil, 5-FU
Fluorouracil (Adrucil) is a prescription medicine used to treat cancer of the colon, rectum, breast, stomach, or pancreas. It is given as an injection into the vein (IV), or as an infusion. Fluorouracil is a type of antimetabolite.
Fluorouracil Injection
Also called: Adrucil®, 5-Fluorouracil, 5-FU
Fluorouracil (Adrucil) is a prescription medicine used to treat cancer of the colon, rectum, breast, stomach, or pancreas. It is given as an injection into the vein (IV), or as an infusion. Fluorouracil is a type of antimetabolite.
Fluorouracil is a type of chemotherapy drug called an antimetabolite. It mimics one of the building blocks of RNA and DNA, which disrupts the ability of the cells to make DNA and proteins. This slows or stops the growth of cancer cells and other rapidly dividing cells and causes them to die.
Fluorouracil injection is approved to treat:
Breast cancer.
Colorectal cancer.
Gastric (stomach) cancer.
Pancreatic cancer.
Fluorouracil is also called 5-FU. Fluorouracil is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and types of cancer.
Fluorouracil is also available in a topical form.
Fluorouracil Injection - NCI. National Cancer Institute. Apr 13, 2007 [accessed on Nov 09, 2023]
ADRUCIL (fluorouracil) injection, solution [accessed on Aug 15, 2019]
Fluorouracil Injection. MedlinePlus/AHFS® Drug Information. [accessed on Oct 29, 2018]
These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Fluorouracil Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Additional Materials (6)
Bowen's disease plaque
Bowen's disease typically presents as a gradually enlarging, well-demarcated red colored plaque with an irregular border and surface crusting or scaling. Bowen's disease may occur at any age in adults, but is rare before the age of 30 years; most patients are aged over 60. Any site may be affected, although involvement of palms or soles is uncommon. Bowen's disease occurs predominantly in women (70–85% of cases). About 60–85% of patients have lesions on the lower leg, usually in previously or presently sun-exposed areas of skin.
This is a persistent, progressive, unelevated, red, scaly or crusted plaque which is due to an intraepidermal carcinoma and is potentially malignant. The lesions may occur anywhere on the skin surface, including on mucosal surfaces. Freezing, cauterization, or diathermy coagulation is often effective treatment. Pathomorphologic study of tissue sampling revealed: polymorphism of spiny epithelial cells has progressed into atypism; increased mitosis; giant and multinucleate cells; acanthosis; hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis; basal membrane and basal layer are retained.
Causes Edit
Causes of Bowen's disease include solar damage, arsenic, immunosuppression (including AIDS), viral infection (human papillomavirus or HPV), chronic skin injury, and other dermatoses.[4]
Histology Edit
In Bowen's disease, atypical squamous cells proliferate through the whole thickness of the epidermis. The entire tumor is confined to the epidermis and does not invade into the dermis. The cells in Bowen's disease are often highly atypical under the microscope, and may in fact look more unusual than the cells of some invasive squamous cell carcinomas.
Bowen's disease as seen under a microscope
Bowen disease (2).jpg
Bowen disease (3).jpg
Bowen disease (4).jpg
Treatment Edit
Photodynamic therapy, cryotherapy (freezing), or local chemotherapy (with 5-fluorouracil) are favored by some clinicians over excision. Because the cells of Bowen's disease have not invaded the dermis, it has a much better prognosis than invasive squamous cell carcinoma.
Good results have been noted with the use of imiquimod for Bowen's disease, including on the penis (erythroplasia of Queyrat), although imiquimod is not (as of 2013) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of any type of squamous cell carcinoma, and serious side effects can occur with use of imiquimod.
References Edit
^ James, William; Berger, Timothy; Elston, Dirk (2005). Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. (10th ed.). Saunders. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
Image by Masryyy/Wikimedia
Severe Toxicity Under 5- Fluorouracil-Based Therapy
Video by Mayo Proceedings/YouTube
Fluorouracil and Pet Safety | How You Can Keep Your Pets Safe When Using 5-FU
Video by U.S. Food and Drug Administration/YouTube
What is FEC and Docetaxel combination chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
Video by OncoPower/YouTube
What is FEC chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
Video by OncoPower/YouTube
What is FEC and Paclitaxel combination chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
Video by OncoPower/YouTube
Bowen's disease plaque
Masryyy/Wikimedia
4:47
Severe Toxicity Under 5- Fluorouracil-Based Therapy
Mayo Proceedings/YouTube
4:43
Fluorouracil and Pet Safety | How You Can Keep Your Pets Safe When Using 5-FU
U.S. Food and Drug Administration/YouTube
5:57
What is FEC and Docetaxel combination chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
OncoPower/YouTube
6:13
What is FEC chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
OncoPower/YouTube
5:59
What is FEC and Paclitaxel combination chemotherapy and what are its side effects? | OncoPower
OncoPower/YouTube
LV = Leucovorin Calcium
Leucovorin Injection
Also called: Leucovorin Calcium
Leucovorin is a prescription medicine used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of colorectal cancer and anemia and to lessen the toxic effects of the anticancer drug methotrexate or other substances that block the action of folic acid. Leucovorin is a form of folic acid.
Leucovorin Injection
Also called: Leucovorin Calcium
Leucovorin is a prescription medicine used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of colorectal cancer and anemia and to lessen the toxic effects of the anticancer drug methotrexate or other substances that block the action of folic acid. Leucovorin is a form of folic acid.
Leucovorin calcium is a type of drug called a folic acid analog, which means it is similar to the vitamin folic acid. It is used in combination with certain chemotherapy drugs to enhance their ability to kill cancer cells (for example, fluorouracil) or to lessen their harmful side effects (for example, methotrexate). It is a type of chemoprotective agent and a type of chemosensitizing agent. Leucovorin is the active ingredient of leucovorin calcium. Also called citrovorum factor and folinic acid.
Leucovorin calcium is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat:
Colorectal cancer. It is used with fluorouracil as palliative treatment in patients with advanced disease.
Anemia. It is used to treat megaloblastic anemia that occurs when the body does not get enough of a vitamin called folic acid. It is used by patients who cannot take the vitamin by mouth.
Leucovorin calcium is also used to prevent and treat the toxic effects of high-dose methotrexate when used to treat osteosarcoma and other types of cancer. It is also used to treat overdoses of methotrexate or other folic acid antagonists.
The drug is also being studied in the treatment of other conditions and types of cancer.
Leucovorin Calcium - NCI. National Cancer Institute. Aug 21, 2008 [accessed on Nov 09, 2023]
Leucovorin Injection. MedlinePlus/AHFS® Drug Information. [accessed on Oct 29, 2018]
These FAQs provide a summary of the most important information about Leucovorin Injection. If you would like more information or have any questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
Possible Side Effects
Patient Receives Chemotherapy
Image by National Cancer Institute / Rhoda Baer (Photographer)
Patient Receives Chemotherapy
A Hispanic male patient receives Chemotherapy from a African-American Nurse through a port that is placed in his chest area. A caucasian female nurse looks on.
Image by National Cancer Institute / Rhoda Baer (Photographer)
Possible Side Effects of 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin
COMMON, SOME MAY BE SERIOUS In 100 people receiving 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, more than 20 and up to 100 may have:
Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Sores in mouth which may cause difficulty swallowing
Swelling and redness at the site of medication injection
Hand-foot syndrome (palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia) redness, pain or peeling of palms and soles
Increased risk of sunburn, itching, blisters on the skin, dry skin
Tiredness
OCCASIONAL, SOME MAY BE SERIOUS In 100 people receiving 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, from 4 to 20 may have:
Chest pain
Abnormal heartbeat
Stroke, which may cause paralysis, weakness, headache
Altered mental status, confusion, disorientation, intense feelings of joy, difficulty walking and balancing, coma
Allergic reaction which may cause rash, low blood pressure, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of the face or throat
Infection, especially when white blood cell count is low
Bruising, bleeding or internal bleeding which may cause black tarry stools
Blood clot
Anemia which may require blood transfusions
Visual disturbances, abnormal eye movement, discomfort from light, and watering eyes
Sores in stomach which may cause belly pain
Loss of appetite, weight loss
Headache
Change in skin or nails, rash
Hair loss
RARE, AND SERIOUS In 100 people receiving 5-Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, 3 or fewer may have:
Heart attack or heart failure, which may cause shortness of breath, swelling of ankles, and tiredness
Stevens-Johnson syndrome which may cause severe skin rash with blisters and peeling which can involve the mouth and other parts of the body
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FU-LV Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
FU-LV is an abbreviation for a chemotherapy combination used to treat colorectal cancer. It includes the drugs 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium. Learn more about this chemotherapy regimen.