Large Intestinal Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2002. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2002; 8(4): 663-667
Published online Aug 15, 2002. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v8.i4.663
Arterial chemotherapy of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in the treatment of liver metastases of colorectal cancer
Lian-Xin Liu, Wei-Hui Zhang, Hong-Chi Jiang, An-Long Zhu, Lin-Feng Wu, Shu-Yi Qi, Da-Xun Piao
Lian-Xin Liu, Wei-Hui Zhang, Hong-Chi Jiang, An-Long Zhu, Lin-Feng Wu, Da-Xun Piao, Department of Surgery, the First Clinical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
Shu-Yi Qi, Department of VIP, the First Clinical College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Youth Natural Scientific Foundation of Heilongjiang Province and Harbin
Correspondence to: Dr Lian-Xin Liu, Department of Surgery, the First Clinical College, Harbin Medical University, No.23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China. liulianxin@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-451-3668999 Fax: +86-451-3670428
Received: July 20, 2002
Revised: July 23, 2002
Accepted: July 25, 2002
Published online: August 15, 2002
Abstract

AIM: Regional chemotherapy using hepatic artery catheters is a good method of treating patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases. We investigated the survival of patients with liver metastases from colorectal cancer using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C Cthrough implantable hepatic arterial infusion port.

METHODS: Seventy-five patients with inoperable liver metastases from colorectal cancer were included between March, 1992 and November, 2001. We placed implantable hepatic arterial catheter (HAC) port by laparotomy.5-FU, 1000 mg/m2/d continuous infusion for five days every four weeks, was delivered in the hepatic arterial catheter through the port. Mitomycin C, 30 mg/m2/d infusion in the first day every cycle through the port. Response to the treatment was evaluated by serial determinations of plasma CEA and imaging techniques consisting of computerized tomography and sonography of liver.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight were performed hepatic artery chemotherapy and fifty-six were followed up among seventy-five HAC patients. Twenty-six patients (46.4%) have responded and 4 complete remission were achieved. Eight patients (14.3%) had stable liver metastases. Twenty-two patients (39.3%) were progressed with increased tumor size and number. Twenty-nine patients (51.8%) had a decreased serum CEA level, while 10 patients (17.9%) were stable and 17 patients (30.4%) had an increased serum CEA level. There were no operative death in this series. Complications, which occurred in 18 patients (32.1%), were as followed: hepatic artery thrombosis in 11, Upper gastric and intestinal bleeding in 3, liver abscess in 1, pocket infection in 1, cholangitis in 1, and hepatic artery pseudo-aneurysm in one patient.

CONCLUSION: Combined infusion of 5-FU and mitomycin C by hepatic artery catheter port is an effective treatment for liver metastases from colorectal cancer. The high response and lower complication rates prove the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer with this treatment.

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