Intraarterial injection therapy of newly developed cisplatin-phosphatidyl choline-lipiodol suspension for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Twenty-seven patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated by intraarterial injection of a suspension of cisplatin powder and iodized oil using phosphatidyl choline as a dispersing stabilizer. A reduction in tumor size of over 25% was obtained in 23 patients (85%) and a reduction of more than 50% was obtained in 17 patients (63%). In all of 14 patients with a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level (more than 200 ng/ml), 27% to 99% reduction in the level was obtained. The one-, two-, and three-year survival rates were 74%, 50%, and 35%, respectively. As for side effects, digestive symptoms were rather frequently observed. Liver abscess and cholangitis were observed in one patient each in patients combined with embolization using gelatin sponge particles. Injection of the suspension with embolization was superior to injection only in therapeutic effect, but was associated with a higher frequency of side effects. The therapeutic effect was better in cases of higher Lipiodol retention in the tumor on follow-up CT.