Repetitive chemoembolization of hypovascular liver metastases from the most common primary sites

To evaluate tumor response in patients with hypovascular liver metastases from the most common primary sites treated with chemoembolization.

Chemoembolization was performed in 190 patients (five groups) who had hypovascular liver metastases from the colon (n = 66), breast (n = 40), uveal malignant melanoma (n = 20), pancreas (n = 48) and stomach (n = 16). Surgical resection of primary sites had been performed for all included patients. Tumor response, survival statistics from the first chemoembolization using Kaplan-Meier method and progression rate of embolized lesions were evaluated by analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test.

Multiple comparison between the groups showed no statistical significant difference in local tumor response (H: 9.23; p > 0.05). Survival indices of the patients, including survival rate, progression-free survival rate, median survival time and time to progression, demonstrated significant difference between the groups during the follow-up period (H: 9.7; p = 0.045). The progression rate of treated liver metastases from colon, breast, uvea, pancreas and stomach were 16.6, 17.5, 30.0, 25.0 and 32.0%, respectively (p = 0.002).

Hypovascular liver metastases treated with chemoembolization may demonstrate equal local response, but are significantly different in rate of progression and survival.