Successful treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma by combined administration of 5-fluorouracil and pegylated interferon-alpha.
We report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated successfully by transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) followed by combination therapy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha). In the present case, the patient had massive and advanced HCC with a diameter of over 8 cm located in segment 7 (S7) of the liver. Furthermore, the tumor invaded into the major branch of the portal vein (Vp3). After TACE, combined administration of 5-FU and PEG-IFN-alpha was performed for 5 mo. HCC was totally eradicated and the serum levels of tumor markers were markedly decreased by the treatment. Although it has been reported that the combined use of conventional IFN-alpha and 5-FU showed striking effects on HCC in some cases, this case may suggest the more promising effect of PEG-IFN-alpha with a long-lasting effect, in the combined use with 5-FU for the treatment of massive advanced HCC.
Kurokohchi
Kazutaka
K
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa University School of Medicine, 1750-1 Ikenobe, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan.
Takaguchi
Kouichi
K
Kita
Keiji
K
Masaki
Tsutomu
T
Kuriyama
Shigeki
S
D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011859:Radiography; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a; D005472:Fluorouracil