title: Systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil for extrahepatic metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We have evaluated the effectiveness of systemic chemotherapy for patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined the background, survival rates, median survival time and side effects of 15 cases in which systemic chemotherapy using carboplatin and 5-fluorouracil was done (chemotherapy group) and 59 cases in which chemotherapy was not done (non-chemotherapy group) out of a total of 74 cases of patients with extrahepatic metastasis from hepatocellular carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prognoses of the 15 chemotherapy cases and the 59 non-chemotherapy cases were as follows: 66.0%, 33.3%, 20.0% at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months respectively for the chemotherapy cases and 44.0%, 18.2%, 7.1% respectively for the non-chemotherapy cases. Median survival periods were 10.7 months for the chemotherapy group and 5.1 months for the non-chemotherapy group. A significantly better prognosis of survival (p=0.037) was identified in the chemotherapy group and no serious side effects were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present research preceded the approval of sorafenib. This systemic combination chemotherapy will provide an extended survival prognosis and is thus considered to be comparatively safe and effective in those patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Medicine, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan. g.hirano@minf.med.fukuoka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Genryu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: Kunitoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakurai
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sohda
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kunimoto
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yotsumoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukunaga
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwashita
authors.forename: Shuichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morihara
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeyama
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shakado
authors.forename: Shotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakisaka
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil