[Infusion chemotherapy and chemoembolization of liver metastases from cancer of the alimentary tract].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy and chemoembolization in the treatment of liver metastases from alimentary tract cancer.


METHODS
A total of 92 patients with unresectable liver metastases from alimentary tract cancer was treated 316 times by hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy and chemoembolization. Of the 92 patients, only infusion chemotherapy was performed in 29 patients, and infusion chemotherapy and chemoembolization in 63 patients. Chemotherapy was carried out with a combination of epirubicin and/or cisplatin, mitomycin-C, calcium folinate and 5-fluorouracil. Embolization was accomplished with lipiodol ultra-fluid or lipiodol ultra-fluid and gelatin sponge. Response rates were assessed by CT scanning.


RESULTS
An overall response rate (CR + PR) of the cases was 45.7%. The mean survival period of 92 patients was 19.6 months. The 0.5-, 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year survival rate was 95.7%, 73.8%, 30.9%, 17.6% and 9.9%, respectively. Best therapeutic results were obtained in 9 cases with single metastatic focus in the liver, with a mean survival period of 31.2 months. There was no severe side effect or complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment by transcatheter hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy and chemoembolization is beneficial to patients with metastatic cancer of the liver.
Zeng
H
H
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Li
H
H
Shi
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D015996:Survival Rate
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents