5-Fluorouracil rechallenge after 5-fluorouracil-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy

Anticancer Drugs. 2019 Mar;30(3):313-317. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000000730.

Abstract

For several decades, 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has been the backbone of many chemotherapy regimens for various tumor types. Its most common side effects are gastrointestinal disorders, mucositis, myelosuppression, hand-foot syndrome, and rarely cardiac toxicity. More rarely, 5-FU infusion can induce hyperammonemic encephalopathy. 5-FU toxicities can be worsened by complete or partial genetic and/or phenotypic dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency. Here, we report the case of a patient who initially developed a 5-FU-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy after receiving FOLFIRINOX (oxaliplatin, irinotecan, folinic acid, and 5-FU) chemotherapy with bevacizumab to treat a metastatic gastrointestinal cancer of unknown primary. Thereafter, the patient was rechallenged successfully by the same chemotherapy regimen (FOLFIRINOX) for more than 6 months with a protocol consisting in a free protein diet, and administration of ammonium chelators, and Krebs and urea cycle intermediates, to prevent further hyperammonemia. We also present a review of the literature on 5-FU rechallenge after 5-FU-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bevacizumab / administration & dosage
  • Brain Diseases / chemically induced
  • Brain Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Brain Diseases / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyperammonemia / chemically induced
  • Hyperammonemia / drug therapy*
  • Hyperammonemia / pathology
  • Irinotecan / administration & dosage
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / pathology
  • Oxaliplatin / administration & dosage
  • Prognosis
  • Retreatment / statistics & numerical data*

Substances

  • Oxaliplatin
  • Bevacizumab
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil