[Study of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using an implantable reservoir]

Twenty-two patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy using an implantable reservoir. The catheter was placed in the hepatic artery via the left subclavian artery. Adriamycin or epirubicin were administered intermittently. From the result, the response rate in all cases was 22.7%, and no difference in the response rate by Stage was observed. However, the less the hepatic disturbance, the greater the effect was: 75% in clinical stage I, 18.2% in II and 0% in III. Significant differences of ICG R15, doses and frequency of intra-arterial infusion were observed between PR, NC and PD cases. The usefulness of this chemotherapy was suggested in highly advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in Vp3.