Continuous hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for liver metastasis from biliary tract and pancreatic cancers.
BACKGROUND
The efficacy of intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy for liver metastasis from biliary tract or pancreatic cancer remains uncertain.


METHODS
Five patients with bilio-pancreatic liver metastasis underwent continuous hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy. One treatment course basically consisted of a 14-day infusion period during which continuous infusions of 5-fluorouracil and intermittent bolus injections of cisplatin were given, and a subsequent 14-day intermission. After two consecutive courses, these drugs were administered bi-weekly.


RESULTS
One complete and three partial responses were observed (response rate, 80%). In responders, the responses persisted until or even after the cessation of chemotherapy. The median survival was 15 months after the start of chemotherapy. The longest survivor has been disease-free for 46 months since a liver tumour remaining despite chemotherapy was eradicated by further treatment. Toxicity was acceptable.


CONCLUSIONS
5-Fluorouracil and cisplatin-based continuous hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy may serve as a promising treatment for bilio-pancreatic liver metastasis.
Kato
Yutaro
Y
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Denryoku Hospital, 9-2 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-0016, Japan. yutarokato@aol.com
Tsuyuki
Akira
A
Kikuchi
Kiyoshi
K
Tokuyama
Jo
J
Kurihara
Naoto
N
Kumamoto
Yusuke
Y
Fujishiro
Yasuo
Y
Ebinuma
Hirotoshi
H
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil