Hepatic artery ligation and postoperative chemotherapy for hepatic metastases: clinical and pathophysiological...

Nineteen patients underwent hepatic artery ligation for metastatic cancer of the liver. Metastases were from colon cancer in 13 and from other primary cancers in 6. Postoperative chemotherapy was given to 15 by the systemic route, and to 1 by infusion into the ligated hepatic artery. Sixteen patients survived the procedure. In these patients, the mean survival of those with metastases from colon cancer was 27+ (5-72) weeks, and from other cancer 50+ (8-23) weeks. Among the patients evaluated, 57% had symptomatic improvement, 43% showed improvement in the liver scan, and 33% had a decrease in liver size. Our experience suggests that hepatic artery ligation can offer temporary but significant palliation in carefully selected patients.