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Combined therapy consisting of intraarterial cisplatin infusion and systemic interferon‐α for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with major portal vein thrombosis or distant metastasis
Author(s) -
Chung YoungHwa,
Song Il Han,
Song ByungCheol,
Lee Geun Chan,
Koh Moon Soo,
Yoon HyumKi,
Lee Yung Sang,
Sung KyuBo,
Suh Dong Jin
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(20000501)88:9<1986::aid-cncr2>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , cisplatin , portal vein thrombosis , alpha interferon , gastroenterology , metastasis , thrombosis , surgery , interferon alfa , chemotherapy , cancer , interferon , immunotherapy , virology
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with major vascular involvement or extrahepatic metastasis are not good candidates for surgery or transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). In this study, the authors evaluated the efficacy of combined therapy with intraarterial cisplatin infusion and systemic administration of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) as a palliative treatment for these patients. METHODS Sixty‐eight HCC patients with major portal vein thrombosis (n = 47) or distant metastasis (n = 27) were randomly allocated to 1 of 3 groups. Group I (n = 19) received combined therapy consisting of intraarterial cisplatin infusion and systemic IFN‐α, Group II (n = 23) received intraarterial cisplatin infusion, and Group III (n = 26) was managed with only supportive care. Cisplatin 2 mg/kg was infused through the proper hepatic artery every 8 weeks, and IFN‐α 3 million IU/m 2 was administered subcutaneously 3 times a week. RESULTS The partial response (defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the product of the 2 longest perpendicular tumor measurements) rate of Group I was significantly higher than that of Group II (33% vs. 14%; P < 0.05). Also, the 1‐year survival rate of Group I (27%) was higher than that of Group II (9%) or Group III (0%) ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The median survival period of Group I was 19 weeks, which was significantly longer than that of Group II (11 weeks) or Group III (5 weeks) ( P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that combined therapy consisting of intraarterial cisplatin infusion and systemic IFN‐α may be useful as a palliative treatment for HCC patients with major vascular involvement or extrahepatic metastasis. Cancer 2000;88:1986–91. © 2000 American Cancer Society.