Korean J Hepatol.  2005 Sep;11(3):268-274.

Efficacy of Repeated Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombosis

• Sim MK
• Kim DY
• Park JY
• Kim JK
• Kim SA
• Ahn SH
• Chon CY
• Moon YM
• Won JY
• Lee DY
• Han KH

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study is to elucidate the efficacy of repeated hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) and different chemotherapeutic regimens for treating patients having advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT). METHODS: From Jan. 1999 and Dec. 2003, a total of 103 patients diagnosed as having HCC with PVTT, but without extrahepatic spreading, were enrolled in this study. They were stratified into two groups. Group I (67 patients) received intraarterial cisplatin (CDDP, 80 mg/m2 for 2 hours on Day 1), Group II (36 patients) received intraarterial CDDP (60 mg/m2 for 2 hours on Day 2) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU, 500 mg/m2 for 5 hours on Day 1-3). They were scheduled to receive at least three consecutive courses of the HAIC at 1 month intervals. RESULTS: Among the 66 patients who completed the protocol, one (2.5%) and seven (17.5%) patients of group I, and one (3.8%) and four (15.4%) of group II, exhibited complete and partial responses, respectively. The median survival period of all the patients was 6 months. Group II showed a tendency to improve the median survival compared to group I (8.5 vs 5.0 months, respectively, P=0.45). The most common adverse reaction was nausea (58.2%). However, an elevation of the total bilirubin level was more frequent in Group I than in Group II (61.3% vs 20.7%, respectively, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Repeated HAIC using CDDP achieved favorable results in a few patients with HCC with PVTT, and additional 5-FU may be useful.

Keyword

Hepatocellular carcinoma; Portal vein; Thrombosis; Intraarterial infusion

MeSH Terms

Adult
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/*administration & dosage
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*drug therapy
Cisplatin/administration & dosage
English Abstract
Female
*Hepatic Artery
Humans
Infusions, Intra-Arterial
Liver Neoplasms/*drug therapy
Male
Middle Aged
*Portal Vein
Venous Thrombosis/*complications