[Home chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis]

Nineteen patients diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis were treated by in-home chemotherapy over a period of four years from August, 1990 to July, 1994. Primary diagnoses of the four male and 15 female patients included 12 cases gastric cancer (four males, eight females), five cases of ovarian cancer, one case (female) of appendicular cancer, and one case (female) of breast cancer. In addition to oral administration of UFT-E and 5'-DFUR, chemotherapy included weekly intravenous injection of a massive dose of 5-FU (1,000 mg/m2), subselective intraaortic infusion and intraperitoneal infusion using a reservoir. These methods were used individually and in combination. The drugs used included 5-FU, CBDCA, CPA, THP, and EPIR. Subselective intraaortic infusion was performed by low dose continuous infusion using the Baxter infusor multiday type. Six gastric cancer patients lived normally for over one year, while four died in less than a year. All ovarian and appendicular cancer patients were CR, the breast cancer patient was PR. Ten patients continued working at their jobs while receiving at home chemotherapy treatments. Diuretics were used to alleviats ascites. Although there were no side effects on digestive organs, 5-FU and CBDCA were mixed with 100 mg hydrocortisone in the infusor to improve cachexia, and promote appetite and activity. Bone marrow suppression was very slight at these dosages, and weekly checkups were adequate. The at-home rate (number of days at home/entire period since onset) of all patients was 78%.