[Treatment with degradable starch microspheres (DSM) in malignant hepatic tumors-clinical experience of implantable drug delivery system (Port-A-Cath)].

Chemoembolization with degradable starch microspheres (DSM) was performed in twelve cases of hepatocellular carcinoma, one case of cholangioma, and one case of metastatic liver cancer. The following results were obtained. (1) Tumor regression of over 50% was observed in eight of fourteen cases. Tumor regression of over 25% was obtained in ten of fourteen cases. (2) Half of the cases had fever, pain and leukocytopenia, but they were slight and transient. (3) Implantable drug delivery system (Port-A-Cath) was applied for intra-arterial chemoembolization in four cases. The longest implantation period was 662 days and 33 infusions were made. These results suggest that chemoembolization with DSM can be effectively used in the treatment of malignant hepatic tumors.