[Hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin and adriamycin in combination with angiotensin-II in the treatment of malignant liver tumors].

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with cisplatin (CDDP) and adriamycin (ADR) in combination with angiotensin-II (AT-II) was performed in 19 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 16 cases of metastatic liver tumor (MLT) and one case of cholangiocellular carcinoma. CDDP (60-120 mg) and ADR (20-50 mg) were infused into the hepatic artery with intra-arterial instillation of AT-II (0.5-1.5 microgram/min). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was additionally performed in 10 cases of HCC and 3 cases of MLT. The response rates for infusion chemotherapy combined with TAE were 44% in HCC and 67% in MLT. On the other hand, the response rates without TAE were 0% in HCC and 42% in MLT. In some cases of HCC, however, a marked decrease in serum alpha-fetoprotein levels was observed despite the lack of effectiveness evaluated by CT scan and angiography. Although minor side effects were noted such as a mild degree of leukocytopenia and/or thrombocytopenia and hepatic and/or renal dysfunction, they were only temporary with a duration of less than 3 or 4 weeks. In 4 patients with HCC without TAE treatment, however, lethal side effects occurred including pancytopenia, hepatic failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation, and they died within 2 months after infusion chemotherapy. Renal failure was not seen in either group.