The efficacy of bronchial artery infusion chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy for lung cancer with malignant hydrothorax

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of bronchial artery infusion chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy for lung cancer with malignant hydrothorax. Methods Seventy-five lung cancer patients with malignant hydrothorax were randomly divided into the two groups: 38 patients were given intrathoracic chemotherapy and bronchial artery infusion chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy as observing group; 37cases only received intrathoracic chemotherapy as control group. χ 2 assay was performed to analyze the efficacy (responses for lung cancer and hydrothorax control) after the first course of treatment and the 1-, 2-year survival rates in the two groups. Results After the first course of treatment, the total responses for lung cancer were 31.58% (12/38) and 5.41% (2/37) in the observing group and control group (χ2=8.46, P < 0.01) respectively ; and responses for hydrothorax control were 86.84% and 64.86% respectively (χ2= 4.96, P <0.05). The 1- and 2-year survival rates in the observing group were 65.79% (25/38) and 26.32% (10/38) respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the control group (40.54% and 5.41%) respectively (χ2=4.80, P <0.05; χ2=6.10, P <0.05). Conclusion The intrathoracic chemotherapy combined with bronchial artery infusion chemotherapy and immunotherapy is quite effective in the treatment of lung cancer with malignant hydrothorax. DOI: 10.3779/j.issn.1009-3419.2002.05.12