[Clinical study of cyclic intra-arterial chemotherapy using mitoxantrone for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma]

Cyclic intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy using Mitoxantrone via reservoir system was prescribed for 8 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. According to the clinical staging system, two patients were in Stage III and the other six patients in Stage IV-A. Vp-3 portal invasion was observed in six out of the eight patients. Mitoxantrone (5-8 mg/body) was administered intra-arterially via port-a-cath device every 4 weeks. For tumor response, there were two PR cases, four NC cases, and two PD cases. Thus, the response rate was 25%. The mean survival period was 6.5 months, and 1-year survival rate was 13%. In one of two PR cases, the survival time has been more than two years so far. Gastrointestinal toxicities such as nausea and vomiting were not severe. Critical myelosuppression requiring medication was not observed. Although a temporary increase of serum bilirubin was found in two cases, no severe damage to hepatic function was observed. From our preliminary data, this arterial infusion chemotherapy using Mitoxantrone via reservoir system can be safely performed on non-hospitalized patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and may be a useful treatment modality.