[Trans-Arterial Chemoembolization Therapy for Refractory Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Spherical Embolic...

Here, we report the use of trans-arterial chemoembolization for primary lung cancer. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with refractory Stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer who had been treated with repeated systemic chemotherapy. The primary lesion in the right lower lobe was 75 mm in size, with multiple lung metastases. It invaded the right main bronchus and caused severe cough. Radiotherapy was not indicated because of the size and extent of the lesion. During a period of 6 months, chemoembolization of the bilateral bronchial arteries using cisplatin 20 mg, docetaxel 20 mg, and 5-FU 250 mg with HepaSphere (super-absorbent polymer microspheres) was performed 5 times. Twenty mg of docetaxel was loaded onto 25 mg of HepaSphere. The microspheres were between 50 and 100 microns in the dry state. The endpoint of embolization was not stasis but the reduction of arterial flow. There were no serious complications during or after the procedure. Immediately after the first session, the patient's cough was significantly improved. After 5 sessions of the same treatment, the primary lesion was reduced to 48 mm and the level of CEA was reduced from 9.8 to 4.3 ng/mL. The invasion to the right main bronchus was reduced. The patient has been well without any symptoms for 9 months after initiation of trans-arterial chemoembolization.