Survival benefits of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with portal vein tumor thrombosis.

PURPOSE: : Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein thrombosis has a poor prognosis. This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic effects of intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in advanced HCC, and tried to identify prognostic factors that could affect survival.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: : Between January 1995 and January 2001, a total of 102 patients with advanced HCC with portal vein thrombosis were enrolled and divided into three groups: group 1 (n=24) was managed with only supportive care, group 2 (n=25) received systemic combination chemotherapy and group 3 (n=52) received intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil+cisplatin via implanted chemoport.

RESULTS

: One-year survival rates were 0, 4, 21% and median survivals were 2, 4, 6 months in groups 1, 2, 3, respectively (p=0.003). When we divide group 3 patients into long-term (more than 8 months) or short-term survivors, long-term survivor had significantly low level of serum AST (p=0.032) and alkaline phosphatase (p=0.033). Especially, all female patients (n=9) survived more than 8 months (p=0.000). Other favorable prognostic factors for survival were cirrhosis of Child-Pugh class A (p=0.003), only one major branch involvement of the portal vein by tumor (p=0.005), presence of enhancement of tumor portion in arterial phase of CT scan (p=0.044), presence of enhancement of non-tumor portion in portal phase of CT scan (p=0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

: Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy achieved favorable results in advanced HCC with portal vein thrombosis and showed better survival in selected patients.