title: Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in combination with pegylated interferon-α-2b for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported that combination therapy comprising hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) with 3 drugs, namely, cisplatin (CDDP), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (low-dose FP) and isovorin and interferon (IFN)-α-2b was not beneficial for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we investigated the efficacy of combination therapy comprising HAIC and pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-α-2b in advanced HCC patients by comparing our results with previous data.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a total of 29 patients, 12 received HAIC and PEGIFN- α-2b (PEG-IFN group) and 17 received HAIC and IFN-α-2b (IFN group). There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 33.3% (complete response (CR)=1; partial response (PR)=3) in the PEGIFN group and 47.1% (PR=8) in the IFN group. The 1-, 2- and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 50%, 25% and 8%, respectively, in the PEG-IFN group, whereas they were 53%, 18% and 12%, respectively, in the IFN group. There were no significant differences in the response rate (p=0.251) and survival (p=0.938) between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that combination therapy comprising HAIC using low-dose FP with isovorin and PEG-IFN-α-2b was not beneficial for advanced HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan.
authors.forename: Kohsuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okita
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamasaki
authors.forename: Satoe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamabe
authors.forename: Issei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Yohei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harima
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terai
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sakaida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil