Status of ischemic therapy for hepatic tumors

The use of hepatic artery ligation or permanent dearterialization as the sole procedure for the palliation of patients with malignant hepatic tumors has no proved value. The combination with cytotoxic drug administration via the portal route may offer some advantage. The use of transient dearterialization with one longer ischemic period has been successful in the treatment of metastatic carcinoid disease with carcinoid syndrome but ineffective in the treatment of other hepatic tumors. New knowledge of the effects of transient ischemia on the formation of arterial collaterals and the pathophysiologic mechanisms in cellular injury has led us to further refinement of this therapeutic principle. The first results of repeated short periods of ischemia are promising and give some hope for the future palliation of this group of tumor patients.