From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Tegafur is typically given orally as part of combination regimens, most commonly as UFT (tegafur-uracil) or S-1 (tegafur, gimeracil, and oteracil), with the standard oral dosing for UFT being 300-400 mg/m² daily, divided into 2-3 doses, usually administered for 28 days followed by a 7-day rest period, as supported by the most recent study 1.
Administration and Dosage
- The dosing for UFT is based on body surface area, with a range of 300-400 mg/m² daily.
- For S-1, dosing is based on body surface area, ranging from 80-120 mg daily in two divided doses for 14-28 days, followed by a 14-day rest period.
- These cycles are typically repeated every 4-6 weeks.
Mechanism of Action and Efficacy
- Tegafur is a prodrug that converts to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the body, providing a more convenient oral alternative to intravenous 5-FU with similar efficacy.
- The combination with other agents in formulations like UFT and S-1 helps improve bioavailability and reduce toxicity.
Safety and Monitoring
- Patients should take tegafur with food and maintain adequate hydration during treatment.
- Regular monitoring of blood counts, liver function, and gastrointestinal symptoms is necessary as tegafur can cause myelosuppression, diarrhea, and mucositis, as reported in studies 2, 3, 4, 5.
Clinical Evidence
- The most recent study 1 evaluated the efficacy of low-dose oral tegafur-uracil (UFT) as maintenance chemotherapy following curative chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer, and found that UFT did not improve progression-free survival or overall survival.
- However, other studies 2, 4, 5 have shown that UFT can be effective in the treatment of various cancers, including colorectal, breast, and lung cancer.