[Clinical study of continuous local arterial-infusion chemotherapy for severely advanced hepatocellular carcinoma...

We attempted continuous local arterial-infusion chemotherapy using reservoir for patients with severely advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with no indications for operation, PEIT or TAE because of the advanced clinical stage, Vp-factor, and so on. Twenty-two HCC patients were given continuous arterial-infusion of 5-FU + CDDP and were observed for 36-443 days from June, 1991 to December, 1992. Until the end of 1992, we had 3 partial response (PR) cases and 3 progressive disease (PD) cases, and the other cases showed no change (NC). Except for a case in which therapy was stopped because of renal failure, no patients were disturbed by side effects, and 68.2% of the patients completed all of their therapy as outpatients. Because CDDP can amplify the effect of 5-FU in addition to its own effect as a biochemical modulator, and because continuous infusion can strengthen the effect of 5-FU and reduce the side effects of CDDP, we consider continuous local arterial-infusion of 5-FU and CDDP to be an effective therapy for severely advanced HCC. This treatment does not cure the carcinoma but helps to slow its progress and assure good QOL.