[Chemoembolization for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer]

Chemoembolization using Lipiodol, cisplatin, angiotensin II and Gelfoam (modified sandwich therapy) was carried out for the patients with liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. 1. Ten of 30 patients who underwent hepatic resection received TAE before operation, and the remaining 20 underwent surgery without preoperative TAE. Three-year survival of the former was 66%, and that of the latter was 44% (not significant). 2. Twenty-two patients who were assessed as non-resectable were surgically catheterized into the hepatic artery. Thirteen patients received TAE (totally 38 times) and intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, and the remaining 9 underwent intra-arterial chemotherapy alone. The 50% survival of the former and the latter was 545 and 285 days, respectively. One year survival of the former was significantly better than that of the latter. 3. Fourteen patients had intrahepatic recurrences after hepatic resections. Eight patients received TAE and the remaining 6 did not. The 50% survival of the former was 615 days and that of the latter was 190 days. For one-year survival, the former was significantly better than the latter. These results suggested that TAE is an effective modality for liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.