title: Hepatic artery administration of docetaxel in liver metastases from breast carcinoma: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Taxanes are largely metabolized and almost exclusively excreted in the feces by the liver through the biliary pathway, thus providing a rationale for investigating the activity of their hepatic artery delivery in case of liver metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of administering docetaxel via the hepatic artery in advanced breast cancer patients in whom the liver was the only or the predominant site of metastatic involvement. The dose was increased cycle by cycle in a prospective manner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten eligible patients were enrolled. The median administered dose in the last cycle was 65 mg/m2 (range, 40-100 mg/m2). The treatment was generally well tolerated, and only one patient stopped after two cycles because of toxicity. Four of the 9 eligible patients with assessable liver tumors achieved an objective response. After a median follow-up of 41 months, 4 of the 10 eligible (and 11 treated) patients were alive with a median overall survival of 46 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of docetaxel via the hepatic artery is feasible. The highly interesting response and survival results observed in this limited series of patients warrant further studies.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera, Parma, Italy. giorgio.cocconi@tin.it
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cocconi
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamboni
authors.forename: Donatello
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gasparro
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvagni
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vasini
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larini
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcato
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camisa
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascinu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007269:Injections, Intra-Arterial; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015898:Tomography Scanners, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel