title: Palliative chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma with mitoxantrone, Lipiodol, and Gelfoam. A phase II study.
abstract: Transcatheter chemoembolization, in conjunction with various drugs, has been widely used for palliative treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. A phase II study was carried out on mitoxantrone chemoembolization. High risk cirrhotic patients were excluded from this study. Fourteen mg/m2 mitoxantrone and up to 20 ml Lipiodol were injected, followed by Gelfoam embolization as indicated. Thirty-seven patients (33 with cirrhosis) were treated. Sixty-nine cycles were delivered, with mean (+/-SD) Lipiodol and emulsified mitoxantrone doses of 11.3+/-3.8 ml and 11.8+/-5.2 mg, respectively. Thirteen, 16, and 8 patients received one, two, and three cycles, respectively, with time intervals of 123+/-60 days. Thirty patients received Gelfoam embolization at the first cycle, 9 at the second and 4 at the third. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Complications were mild and transient, including nausea/vomiting in most cases, fever over 38 degrees C 67%, pain 74%, ascites 8%, jaundice 3%, bleeding 3%, pancreatitis 3%, myelosuppression 44%, diarrhea 5%. Treatment response rate was 49% (including 16% minor responses) with 16% early progressions. With a median follow-up of 12 months, the 12-month response duration and survival rates were 56% and 79% respectively. Transcatheter chemoembolization with mitoxantrone appears to be a promising method for the palliation of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and deserves to be evaluated in well controlled randomized studies.
authors.affiliation: Registro Nazionale dei Sistemi Impiantabili: Clinica Chirurgica, Universitá di Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Civalleri
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pellicci
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Decaro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giangaspero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ettorre
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Decian
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mondini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simoni
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000628:therapy*; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D005781:Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010166:Palliative Care; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D007459:Iodized Oil; D008942:Mitoxantrone