[Cisplatin (CDDP) microcapsules in transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization of primary liver cancer]

Hepatic arterial transcatheter chemoembolization with CDDP microcapsules (CDDP mc) was carried out in 19 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC). Tumor regression greater than 50% in diameter after therapy occurred in 58% of the patients, which was statistically significant as compared with another 22 PLC patients given conventional hepatic arterial chemoembolization (58% vs 23%, P < 0.01). Histological examination revealed that 4 of the five tumor specimens resected after the treatment showed complete tumor necrosis. The CDDP concentration was kept at a high level in the tumor region for a long period of time while peripheral drug level was low. Hepatic angiography showed that CDDPmc mainly obliterated the peripheral tumor vascularity with neither establishment of collaterals nor recanalization of the embolized tumor vessels. No serious complications were noted in all patients. Our results demonstrated that CDDPmc is very useful for hepatic arterial embolization with prolonged chemotherapeutic and embolic effects on PLC.