title: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using high-dose 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin with or without interferon-alpha for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this retrospective study, we assessed the efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) using high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin with or without interferon (IFN)-alpha for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two patients were included in the analysis. The patients were treated with 5-FU (750 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (25 mg/m(2)) from Days 1 to 4. IFN-alpha was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 3 million units from Days 1 to 4, and then every other day for 24 days. Chemotherapy was repeated every 4 weeks. Thirty-one patients were treated with 5-FU, cisplatin and IFN-alpha (FPI group) and 21 were treated with 5-FU and cisplatin (FP group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  An objective tumor response was achieved in six patients (19.4%) in the FPI group. In the FP group, 12 patients (57.1%) achieved an objective tumor response (p = 0.015). The cumulative survival rate was higher in the FP group than the FPI group, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.353). The median survival time for the 18 responders was 14 months (range 4-25 months), and their 6, 12, and 24-month cumulative survival rates were 89%, 83%, and 25%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HAIC using high-dose 5-FU plus cisplatin achieved a good tumor response. Adding IFN-alpha did not show any additional beneficial effects in terms of tumor response rate or survival.
authors: Internal Medicine, Yeungnam University Hospital, Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Nam-Gu, Daegu, South Korea.
authors: Jong Ryul
authors: JR
authors: Eun
authors: Heon Ju
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Hee Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Moon
authors: Tae Nyeun
authors: TN
authors: Kim
authors: Jae Woon
authors: JW
authors: Kim
authors: Jay Chun
authors: JC
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial / Q000379:methods; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011169:Portal Vein; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil