INTRA-ARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY IN PRIMARY AND METASTATIC LIVER TUMORS

Abstract

The medical records of 51 patients who had hepatic artery catheterization for unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 59 and mean follow-up period was 11.4 months. Arterial catheterization was performed for liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma in 23 cases, liver metastases of gallbladder carcinoma in 4 cases, liver metastases of pancreas islet cell carcinoma and primary hepatocellular carcinoma in 23 cases. Peroperative mortality rate was 5.9% (three cases). Twenty-four of the patients (50%) responded to intra-arterial chemotherapy via hepatic artery where as 24 (50%) had no-response. Complete response was seen in two cases(4.2%), partial response in 11 (22.9%) cases and 11 (22.9%) cases had stable disease. Median survival time for all patients was 12 months and the probabilities of survival for 1, 2 and 3 years were 47. 1 %, 24.7% and 12.3% respectively. In conclusion, intra-arterial chemotherapy via hepatic artery chateterization in unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors can be recommended as alternative therapeutic approach.