[Arterial chemotherapy of tumors. Considerations on 159 cases]

The results obtained in 153 patients suffering from advanced primary, residual, recurrent and metastatic cancers localized mainly in the cervico-cephalic district and in other sites (skin, extremities and pelvis, liver, thoracic wall, breast) in whom locoregional intraarterial chemotherapy was employed from 1967, are reported. In order of frequency, the commonest antiblastics used were Methotrexate, 5 FU, Vincristin and DITC. Long-term results show an average remission of 52% and mean survival of 11.4 months; these values are liable to wild fluctuations in relation to various factors such as site, development, state of regional lymph nodes, and any previous surgical, radiation or antiblastic therapy. Intraarterial treatment is found to have the best effect in cases of cancer which have not previously been subjected to any therapy at all, and which involve the cervico-cephalic districts, the liver and melanomas.