Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in sarcoma liver metastases: a report of 6 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Liver metastases in patients with sarcoma are rare and associated with a poor prognosis. The experience with liver-directed therapies, eg hepatic arterial infusion, in these patients is limited.


METHODS
Six patients with sarcoma metastatic to the liver (4 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors and 2 patients with leiomyosarcoma) were treated by hepatic arterial infusion in our center over a 12-year period. Since the experience was limited, a pooled analysis of reports with data on survival of 22 individual patients was performed.


RESULTS
None of the 5 assessable patients responded to the therapy, and liver metastases progressed in all patients. The median survival was 20 months. In the pooled analysis, partial response was observed in 10 of 21 assessable patients (48%) and median survival was 20 months. The survival was significantly longer in responding patients compared to nonresponders (35 vs 14 months; logrank test, P = 0.009).


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatic arterial infusion has little efficacy in the treatment of sarcoma metastatic to the liver. More promising results have been reported for chemoembolization. The survival of responding patients seems to be better compared to non-responders.
Melichar
Bohuslav
B
Department of Oncology & Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. melichar@fnhk.cz
Voboril
Zbynĕk
Z
Nozicka
Jan
J
Cerman
Jaroslav
J
Melicharová
Karolina
K
Mergancová
Jindriska
J
Filip
Stanislav
S
Krajina
Antonín
A
Voboril
René
R
Jandík
Pavel
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D007580:Jejunal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome