[Intraarterial and intraportal infusion chemotherapy to prevent hepatic metastasis after curative resection of pancreatic cancer].

In order to prevent postoperative hepatic recurrence after curative resection of pancreatic cancer, we developed a new method of intra arterial and intraportal infusion chemotherapy. This method involves placing a catheter in the portal vein and another catheter in the hepatic artery, before closing the abdomen. Postoperatively, 5-FU (125 mg/day) was infused continuously into these two catheters, for more than 28 days. Twelve patients received this therapy, without liver dysfunction or myelosuppression. During this therapy, the concentration of 5-FU was more than 0.14 micrograms/ml in the portal blood and 0.02 micrograms/ml or less in the systemic blood. The cumulative survival rate was 77% at 18 months and cumulative rate of hepatic metastasis was 25% at 18 months. These data were better than those in the control group (45 curative resections without chemotherapy). Therefore, this method seems beneficial for patients who have received curative resection for pancreatic cancer, since lowers the incidence of hepatic recurrence.