Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy of Floxuridine in Metastatic Liver Cancer

Lee, Jong Hun; Han, Sang Young; Kim, Wan Soo; Park, Seung Wook; Lee, Cheol Jong; Roh, Myung Hwan; Choi, Seok Reyol; Shin, Woo Won; Choi, Hong Jo; Park, Byeong Ho

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome and the side effect of floxuridine (FUDR) hepatic artery infusion (HAI) in patients with metastatic liver cancer.
METHODS
From October 1997 to December 1999, FUDR HAI was performed for 10 patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma (CRC) and gastric cancer and the regimen's effect and toxicity were evaluated. The primary cancer lesions had been resected before FUDR HAI. FUDR was continuously infused at a rate of 0.3 mg/kg/day for 14 days through hepatic artery by percutaneous catheter-guided chemoport. All patients received steroid to prevent hepatic toxicity. Some of the patients were also treated with systemic chemotherapy to treat the extrahepatic metastases.
RESULTS
Two patients showed complete response and five patients showed partial response. Stable disease and progressive disease were detected in two patients and one patient, respectively. Most patients revealed decreased lesion of hepatic metastases during the FUDR HAI. The systemic toxicities of the FUDR HAI were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and mucositis. The hepatic side effect was not detected.
CONCLUSIONS
In patients with CRC and gastric cancer, the regimen using FUDR HAI and steroid was effective against metastatic liver cancer and revealed no hepatic toxicity. Because of the limitation of this study due to small patient group and short duration of follow-up, further studies are needed for large group of patients.