Israel's First Port-Based Hepatic Artery Infusion Program: Early Outcomes in Colorectal Liver Metastases.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Gastroenterology
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy combined with systemic therapy is a key treatment for unresectable liver metastases.
• HAI programs are underutilized outside the US and Europe, necessitating multidisciplinary collaboration for implementation.
• This study addresses the need to establish and evaluate the first HAI program in Israel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and early outcomes of establishing the first hepatic artery infusion program in Israel.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of HAI chemotherapy for patients with unresectable liver metastases in a new geographic region.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 21 patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases who underwent hepatic artery infusion port placement.
• Evaluation of perioperative outcomes, complication rates, response rates, and conversion to resectability at 6 months.
• Patients received HAI chemotherapy following port placement, with outcomes analyzed post-procedure.

Main Results:

• Successful administration of HAI chemotherapy in 95% of patients.
• A 24% major complication rate at 90 days with no mortality.
• Observed partial response rate of 33% and disease control rate of 83% at 6 months.
• 80% of neoadjuvant patients converted from unresectable to resectable.

Conclusions:

• Implementation of a new HAI program is feasible and safe for selected patients with colorectal liver metastases.
• Promising hepatic response and disease control rates were achieved, even in heavily pretreated patients.
• Findings support the expansion of HAI therapy access to new geographic regions.