Hepatic resection followed by IFN-alpha and 5-FU for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the major portal branch.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) invading the major branches of the portal vein (Vp3) is extremely poor. Recently, we reported the efficacy of combination therapy with subcutaneous interferon (IFN)-alpha and intra-arterial 5-FU for intractable HCC with Vp3. In this study, this therapy was applied for resectable advanced HCC (Vp3) as a postoperative adjuvant.

METHODOLOGY

Patients with HCC and tumor thrombi either in the major or first branch of portal vein were included (n=30). Fifteen consecutive patients with HCC and Vp3 were treated with at least 3 cycles of a combination therapy consisting of continuous arterial infusion of 5-FU (300 mg/mm3/day, 5 days/week, for the initial 2 weeks) and subcutaneous injection of IFN (5 MIU, 3 times/week, 4 weeks) as a postoperative adjuvant therapy following hepatic resection. Another 15 patients who underwent hepatic resection with no IFN/5-FU chemotherapy acted as controls.

RESULTS

The results were as follows in the IFN/5-FU adjuvant treatment group; disease-free survival (n=11, 5-55 months), survival with recurrence (n=2, 9, 48 months), cancer death (n=1, 18 months), death from other causes but no recurrence (n=l, 22 months). The 1-year survival rate was 100% in patients treated with IFN/5-FU, and 41% in those without IFN/5-FU historical controls (n=15). There was a significant difference in disease-free and overall survival rates between the two groups (p = 0.0033 and 0.0031).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination therapy with subcutaneous IFN and intra-arterial perfusion of 5-FU seems to be a promising postoperative adjuvant treatment modality for resectable HCC with Vp3.