title: Systemic combined chemotherapy with low dose of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and interferon-alpha for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a pilot study.
abstract: The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and adverse events of systemic combined chemotherapy with low dose of 5-fluorouracil (250 mg/m2, 5 days), cisplatin (10 mg/m2, 5 days), and interferon-alpha (2.5 million units, three times weekly) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) underlying liver cirrhosis. Six patients who had advanced HCC with tumor thrombi in the main portal trunk were enrolled in this study. Partial response was achieved in 2, stable disease in 1, and disease progressed in 3. Objective responses were achieved in 2 (33%), however, marked decreases of alpha-fetoprotein protein and protein-induced vitamin K antagonist or absence (PIVKAII) levels were also seen in one patient (stable disease). Four patients showed hematologic or renal toxicity, which were well tolerated and managed. Our systemic combined chemotherapy resulted in favorable response and was well tolerated in those with advanced HCC underlying liver cirrhosis, complicated by leukocytopenia and thromobocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komorizono
authors.forename: Kazunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kohara
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oketani
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibathou
authors.forename: Shuhou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shigenobu
authors.forename: Yasusi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hiramine
authors.forename: Naruhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Takushi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
authors.forename: Ishibashi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kazuaki
authors.forename: Terukatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arima
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012494:Sampling Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil