[Low-dose intermittent intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy].

Arterial infusion chemotherapy is commonly-used modality for controlling cancers located in specific regions. Previously we described a new method of intra-hepatic arterial catheterization through the left subclavian artery using a subcutaneously-implanted silicone reservoir. In the present paper, we report our experience using a low dose-intermittent intraarterial (i.a.) infusion chemotherapy. Since February, 1982, 70 patients including 44 cases of metastatic liver cancer, 16 cases of primary hepatocellular carcinoma and 10 cases of other gastrointestinal malignancies, have been treated with this low dose-intermittent i.a. infusion chemotherapy, the drugs used being as follows. 1) MMC 4 mg, 5-FU 500 mg, AraC 40 mg/2w, 2) MMC 4 mg/w, 3) 5-FU 500 mg/w, MMC 4 mg/2w, ADM 30 mg/4w. Here, we briefly review the effectiveness of this modality for controlling regional diseases including liver metastases. The average hospital-free interval was 156 days and partial responses were observed in 43% (21/49) of cases. Side effects during the therapy were only mild bone marrow suppression and anorexia, which were tolerable in out-hospital care. We also studied the pharmacokinetics of i.a. infusion into the liver in comparison with i.v. infusion using 99mTc-RBC, and found that the ratio of i.a. to i.v. with regard to trans-arterial drug delivery to the liver was 10.0. From the viewpoints of first pass effect and increased local concentration theory, this ratio suggests that the effectiveness of a low-dose anti-tumor agent administered intraarterially is not so low. Accordingly, we believe that low dose-intermittent i.a. infusion chemotherapy is beneficial as an induction and maintenance chemotherapy for patients with regionally located cancers because it is effective, safer and prolongs the hospital-free interval.