title: Phase II study of Spherex (degradable starch microspheres) injected into the hepatic artery in conjunction with doxorubicin and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: interim analysis.
abstract: Patients with advanced-stage unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated with intrahepatic arterial doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 plus escalating doses of cisplatin up to 100 mg/m2 in conjunction with rapid bolus injection of Spherex (degradable starch microspheres; Kabi Pharmacia, Lund, Sweden) into the hepatic artery, until slowing or reversal of blood flow. Treatments were repeated every 4 to 6 weeks until progression, or were continued indefinitely if there was disease stability or response. Thirty-five evaluable patients have so far been accrued to the study. Objective tumor responses have occurred in 22 patients (63%), of whom 20 had partial responses and two had complete responses. Four of the patients had reversal of tumor-induced portal vein thrombus. Toxicities included death, one patient (and a death of uncertain cause in an additional patient); hepatitis, two patients; pancreatitis, one patient; dyspnea/hypotension, two patients; and hepatic artery nontransient thrombosis in four patients. Six patients have survived 2 years and an additional 10 patients have survived 1 year. The addition of Spherex to intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy for advanced-stage HCC appears to be relatively safe and is well tolerated even in patients with portal vein thrombosis, which represent the majority of patients with advanced-stage HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Liver Transplant, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: B I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zajko
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Orons
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sammon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baron
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008863:Microspheres; D013213:Starch / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; C044817:Spherex; D013213:Starch; D002945:Cisplatin