title: Considerable side effects of chemoembolization for colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver.
abstract: The feasibility of one whole liver chemoembolization (CE) procedure with Angiostat, a vasoocclusive collagen, mitomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin was evaluated in eight patients with unresectable colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver and good performance status. One heavily pretreated patient showed a partial response in the liver lasting 188 days. Five patients had stabilization of the disease for 85-150 days. The side effects of the treatment were considerable with a fatigue syndrome lasting up to eight weeks, chemical and ischemic hepatitis, severe thrombopenia (WHO grade 4 in 2 pts) and icterus being the most disturbing toxicities. We recommend to restrict CE to patients with a life expectancy of more than 4-6 months confined to protocols, which evaluate efficacy, toxicity and influence on quality of life of CE with various cytotoxic drugs. We further suggest to perform staged unilobar CE at 4- to 6-week intervals rather than whole liver CE.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Oncology, University of Bern, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castiglione
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Triller
authors.forename: H U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Baer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soucek
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blumgart
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brunner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003094:Collagen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008937:Mitomycins; C075104:Angiostat; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003094:Collagen; D002945:Cisplatin