Chemotherapy of liver cancer I. Treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by intra-arterial infusion with cytostatic agent

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 19; no. 9; pp. 894 - 900
• Main Authors: NISHIOKA, Mikio, NODA, Kenichi, FUKUMOTO, Youhei, KODAMA, Takahiro, OKITA, Kiwami, SHIGETA, Koujiro, TAKENAMI, Toshihiko, KAN, Talzo, NAWATA, Junsuke, FUJII, Ryoko, HAYAKAWA, Mikio, HARADA, Toshinori, NISHIMURA, Hideo, MIZUTA, Minoru, TAKEMOTO, Tadayoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 25.09.1978
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.19.894

Our experience in the treatment of inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma by the intra-arterial infusion with Mitomysin C (MMC) was reported. Of 26 patients given oral administration of 5Fu or FT-207, 5-10mg/kg of body weight/day, and intermittent intra-arterial infusion with 10-20mg of MMC, about 50% of the patients showed objective responses such as decrease of serum α-fetoprotein levels, decrease in distance of the liver edges from the costal margin and increased survival time. In the 27% of the patients, subjective responses were obtained. Of 13 control patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with oral adoministration of 5Fu or FT-207 alone, or intravenous injection of 4mg of MMC/twice a week, objective responses were observed in 7%. It indicates significant therapeutic effect of intra-arterial infusion of MMC on patients with Hepatocellular carcinoma. The best results were obtained for stage I of Vogel's functional classification of primary liver carcinoma. Patients with severe liver dysfunctions, decrease levels of peripheral lymphocytes, and high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase were unsuitable for such treatment. Siginficant decrease of serum hemoglobin levels were observed as a side effect of intra-arteral infusion of MMC.