[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced cancer--40 years of experience]

During the period of 1990-2005, 701 patients with the hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with intra-arterial infusion of 5-FU and epi-adriamycin with or without Lipiodol chemoembolization employing an implantable infusion port system. In 70% of the patients treated, an objective response was observed with marked regression of tumor and decrease in tumor marker (AFP and PIVKA-II). Also 1,091 patients with the metastatic liver cancer of colon, rectum, stomach and pancreas were treated with the same procedure employing 5-FU, mitomycin C, adriamycin, or epi-adriamycin. In more than 80% of the patients treated, an objective response was observed with marked regression of tumor and decrease in tumor marker (CEA, CA19-9, TPA, DUPAN-2, SPan-1). Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy employing an implantable port system also proved to be a promising treatment modality for most of the intractable head and neck cancer, breast cancer and a few of the pancreas cancer.