[Effect of low dose 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with decompensated cirrhosis].
OBJECTIVE
Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) has a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of repeated arterial infusions of low dose cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (FU) in patients with advanced HCC with decompensated cirrhosis.


METHODS
Between January 1995 and December 2003, a total of 79 decompensated cirrhotic patients having HCC and PVT were enrolled and divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (n=40) received intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin (10 mg for 5 days) and 5-FU (250 mg for 5 days) via an implanted chemoport every 4 weeks' and group 2 (n=39) was managed with only conservative treatment.


RESULTS
The two groups were well matched with respect to the features relating to the prognosis, including age, gender and the Child- Pugh class. Although diffuse tumor involvement, main portal vein tumor thrombosis and bi-lobar involvement were more frequent in group 1, the median survival period of group 1 was significantly longer than group 2 (5 months vs. 3 months, respectively, P=0.016). Also, the 1-year survival rate of group 1 (7.5%) was higher than that of group 2 (5.1%) (P=0.016). When we analyzed the patients with the Child class B, the survival benefits of intra-arterial chemotherapy were more significant (P=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-arterial chemotherapy consisting of low dose 5-FU and cisplatin achieved favorable results for advanced HCC patients who had decompensated cirrhosis, and it showed better survival in selected patients. This therapy may be useful as a palliative treatment for HCC patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
Department of Gastroenterology, Genomic Research Center for Gastroenterology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, South Korea.
Tae Young
TY
Lim
Jae Youn
JY
Cheong
Sung Won
SW
Cho
Sung Jun
SJ
Sim
Jong Su
JS
Kim
Sung Jun
SJ
Choi
Jeong Woo
JW
Choi
Hyeok Choon
HC
Kwon
Kee Myung
KM
Lee
Jai Keun
JK
Kim
Je Hwan
JH
Won
Byung Moo
BM
Yoo
Kwang Jae
KJ
Lee
Ki Baik
KB
Hahm
Jin Hong
JH
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011169:Portal Vein; D015996:Survival Rate; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications
D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil