title: Hepatic Arterial Infusion of Polyethylene Glycol Drug-eluting Beads for Primary and Metastatic Liver Cancer Therapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, there has been the launch of the new Polyethylene glycol (PEG) drug-eluting beads (LifePearl®) for transarterial chemoembolization. Their innovation is that PEG guarantees more compressibility, elasticity and maximizes beads' suspension time. We applied these beads for hepatic intra-arterial infusion of irinotecan or doxorubicin for the therapy of primary and metastatic liver cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 20 consecutive patients, affected by unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC) or hepatic metastases (refractory to chemotherapy) using chemoembolization with doxorubicin or irinotecan pre-loaded Lifepearls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumor response rate was >80% in most patients with 63% of complete and 37% of partial response. We observed no complications during the chemoembolization and no severe general drug-related side-effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that chemoembolization with LifePearl® is efficacious and safe for the treatment of liver cancer as indicated by good tolerability, quality of life and high tumor response.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Radiodiagnostics, Oncology Institute of Veneto, Institute for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (IRCCS), Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aliberti
authors.affiliation: Oncology Radiodiagnostics, Oncology Institute of Veneto, Institute for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (IRCCS), Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carandina
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarti
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics for Images Unit and Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mulazzani
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics for Images Unit and Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Felicioli
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics for Images Unit and Interventional Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coschiera
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera "Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord", Pesaro, Italy g.fiorentini@alice.it.
authors.forename: Giammaria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D018281:Cholangiocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000077146:Irinotecan; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002166:Camptothecin
keywords: LIFDOX®; LIFIRI®; chemoembolization; doxorubicin; irinotecan; liver cancer; liver metastases; polyethylene glycol drug-elutable beads