Results of combined multicycle locoregional therapy in the palliative treatment of multiple liver metastases

: Twenty eight patients with multiple liver metastases were treated by locoregional intraarterial chemotherapy including 118 (3-7, mean 4.2) cycles. In the majority of patients the treatments were carried out in the form of combined cytostatic infusions into the hepatic artery using 5-FU, doxorubicin, cisplatin and mitomycin-C and were complemented by transcatheter embolisation, chemoembolisation and lipiodolisation. In some patients the lipiodolisation was choosen as the primary treatment. In patients with metastases from breast cancer (n = 11) 3 CR, 6 PR, 2 MR occured, the mean survival was 18.4 months, while the one- and two-year survival was 7/11 and 4/11, respectively. In the colorectal group (n = 10) 0 CR, 6 PR, 4 MR were achieved with a mean survival of 13.6 months; one-year survival was 5/10. In the third group (n = 7) consisting of also patients with the poorest prognosis a mean survival of 11.5 months (referring to 6/7 patients) could be accomplished. A patient with metastases from a retroperitoneal anaplastic carcinoma is still alive and disease-free for 92 months. Authors emphasise the importance and effectiveness of locoregional treatments in improving the quality of life as well as survival of patients with unresectable liver metastases.