Related Experiment Videos
Hyperthermic isolated liver perfusion for unresectable liver cancers: pilot study.
1Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Italy. Mario.lise@unipd.it
Journal of Chemotherapy (Florence, Italy)
|January 29, 2005
Summary
Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) with melphalan shows promise for treating unresectable liver cancer, achieving a 63% response rate. Careful patient selection is crucial due to significant toxicity risks.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Locoregional Cancer Therapy
Background:
- Isolated hepatic perfusion (IHP) is a revisited locoregional treatment for unresectable liver cancers.
- Clinical applications of IHP have yielded encouraging outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of hyperthermic IHP with melphalan in patients with unresectable liver cancer.
- To assess tumor response and locoregional side effects.
Main Methods:
- Ten patients with unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer underwent hyperthermic IHP using melphalan.
- Tumor response and toxicity were monitored post-procedure.
Main Results:
- No intraoperative mortality was observed.
- The overall response rate in 8 assessable patients was 63%, with objective tumor regression in many.
- Significant but transient hepatic toxicity occurred in four patients; two died postoperatively from multi-organ failure.
Conclusions:
- Hyperthermic IHP with melphalan demonstrates significant efficacy in treating refractory liver cancers.
- Locoregional toxicity is considerable, necessitating thorough preoperative hepatic function assessment.