Conversion to resectability by intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy after failure of systemic chemotherapy

A 17 cm hepatoblastoma was unresectable at initial exploration. Multiagent chemotherapy (ADR, CTX, VCR, 5FU, BLEO) incurred minimal response at 5 months. Infuse-A-Ports were placed in each hepatic artery and FUDR infused intermittently but there was no response at 6 weeks. Adriamycin and vincristine were then begun via the Infuse-A-Port, with prompt regression of the tumor mass. The intra-arterial course was continued 3 months. Repeat arteriography showed vascular distortion but exploration revealed no gross tumor. A persistent alpha-feto-protein elevation prompted repeat arteriography 4 months afterward. A 3 cm calcific tumor was removed via an extended left lobectomy. Selective hepatic arterial infusion appeared to potentiate chemotherapy after systemic chemotherapy had failed to produce sufficient cytoreduction to allow safe surgical excision. The intra-arterial chemotherapy for unresectable hepatoblastoma warrants further investigation.