Journal
CANCER
Volume 94, Issue 2, Pages 435-442Publisher
JOHN WILEY & SONS INC
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10246
Keywords
hepatocellular carcinoma; interferon-alpha; 5-fluorouracil; chemotherapy; portal vein; tumor thrombus
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BACKGROUND. The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invading into the major branches of the portal vein (Vp3) is extremely poor. METHODS. Eleven consecutive patients with HCC and Vp3 were treated with 2-6 cycles of a basic combination therapy consisting of continuous arterial infusion of 5-fluorouracil (450-500 mg/day, for the initial 2 weeks) and subcutaneous injection of interferon-alpha (5 million international units, 3 times/week, 4 weeks). In the first 3 patients, methotrexate (90 mg/day 1 of every week), cisplatin (10 mg/day), and leucovorin (30 mg/days 2 and 3 of every week) also were administered for the initial 2 weeks (full regimen). RESULTS. In 8 (73%) of 11 patients, an objective response (complete response [CR] or partial response [PR]) was observed with marked regression of tumor and decrease in tumor markers. The use of the full regimen was associated with objective response in all patients; instead, they developed thrombocytopenia or leukopenia. In the subsequent 8 patients with basic regimen, 5 patients showed CR (2 cases) or PR (3 cases; objective response rate, 63%), and leukopenia was observed only in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS. Simple combination therapy with subcutaneous interferon-alpha and intraarterial 5-fluorouracil therefore is a promising treatment modality for intractable HCC with Vp3. (C) 2002 American Cancer Society.
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