title: Long-term outcome of combined interferon-α and 5-fluorouracil treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with major portal vein thrombosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported the beneficial effects of a combination therapy of interferon (IFN)-α/5-fluorouracil (FU) for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombi in the major portal branches. This report describes the results of longer follow-up and includes more than twice the number of patients relative to the previous report; it also evaluates the clinical predictor on the response to the combination therapy and long-term survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study subjects were 102 patients with advanced HCC and tumor thrombi in the major branches of the portal vein (Vp3 or 4). They were treated with at least 2 courses of IFN-α/5-FU.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No major treatment-related complications were noted. In the 102 patients, 40 (39.2%) showed objective response [11 (10.8%) showed complete response, 29 (28.4%) partial response], 8 (7.9%) showed no response and 54 (52.9%) showed progressive disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IFN-α/5-FU combination therapy is a promising modality for advanced HCC with tumor thrombi in the major portal branches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan. hnagano@gesurg.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marubashi
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eguchi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanemura
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomimaru
authors.forename: Keigo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Osuga
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Umeshita
authors.forename: Yuichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Doki
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000473:pathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D005472:Fluorouracil