[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using an implantable drug delivery system]

Intra-arterial chemotherapy and chemoembolization using implantable drug delivery system were performed in sixty-one cases of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The following results were obtained. (1) The follow-up period was 253 days, and the administrations numbered 13.9 times on average. (2) Response rate was 31.1%. (3) AFP decreased in 80% cases, and PIVKA-II in 83.3% cases. (4) Tumor thrombus in the portal vein disappeared in 4 of 40 cases(10%). (5) Free-CDDP continued for 60 minutes after injection of cisplatin-phosphatidyl-choline-Lipiodol (CPL), and the response rate was 47%. (6) The survival rates were 56% in one year, 25% in two years, and 20% for three years. These results were significantly higher than those of one shot therapy. It is suggested that good therapeutic effects can be obtained by the implantable drug delivery system, and CPL was a useful anticancer agent for the therapy.