title: Transcatheter arterial infusion therapy in the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of transcatheter arterial infusion (TAI) therapy in 18 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  The drugs infused were epirubicin 60 mg, mitomycin C 20 mg, and 5-fluorouracil 500 mg. The efficacy of TAI was evaluated by a tumor marker (CA19-9), computed tomography (CT) findings, and postoperative histopathological specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 10 of 15 cases, the tumor marker level was decreased after TAI therapy. In 6 of 14 cases, CT showed a decrease in the tumor size, and in 1 case, the tumor disappeared completely. In 6 cases the tumor could be resected. Necrosis, fibrosis, and degeneration of cancer cells were seen in 3 of 4 cases for whom a histopathological evaluation was done. The median survival was 11 months. In 17 patients back pain was the chief complaint, and was reduced to a self-controlled level in 10 patients following TAI therapy. No major complications were encountered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAI appears to be an effective palliative treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Kyoto University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okajima
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hiraoka
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D015251:Epirubicin; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil