[Combined treatment for malignant tumors using focal ethanol injections]

The potential of focal ethanol injection therapy (FEIT) as a component of combined treatment for malignant tumors was investigated. Thirty-four patients with inoperable primary and recurrent liver cancer received 72 FEIT procedures at the Institute's Clinic - 16 males (47%) and 18 females (53%), aged 35-80, (average 57), (1991-2004). Forty-three metastatic foci - colorectal carcinoma (23), non-colorectal carcinoma (20) and hepatocellular carcinoma (11) - were detected. Size of metastatic foci ranged 3.2-27.8 cm3 (average 15.4+/-6.4 cm3), while those of hepatocellular carcinoma - 156.7-982.4 cm3, (average 492.4+/-136.8 cm3). All patients received regional endovascular chemotherapy, without any life-threatening complications. Reduction in focal size after FEIT for hepatocellular carcinoma ranged 490.2+/-136.8 - 41.8+/-14 cm3. One-, three- and five-year survival was 100, 80 and 60%, respectively. In cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, ethanol-treated foci shrank by 88.4% - from 15.5+/-1.6 to 1.8 +/- 0.3 cm3 (p<0.05). One-, and three-year survival rates were 83 and 14%, respectively. After ethanol ablation, size of metastatic foci fell by 79%, from 13.9+/-4.3 to 2.9+/-2.4 cm3 (p<0.05). One- and three-year survival rates were 91 and 13%, respectively.