Gastrointestinal disorders often occur during systemic chemotherapy. In an attempt to prevent these side-effects, ursodeoxycholic acid was administered during the systemic chemotherapy. This compound significantly alleviated the side-effects, as assessed by an increase in appetite, total serum protein level and body weight. However, in patients with a deficiency in pancreatic exocrine secretion and/or obstructive jaundice due to metastasis to common bile duct, the effects were nil.