Hepatic artery infusion of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma.

Eleven patients with histologically proven cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma were treated with hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (Mito-C). Catheters were placed percutaneously through the femoral artery. The schedule used was 5-FU 1200/mg/m2/day given as a continuous infusion for 4 days, plus Mito-C 6 mg/m2 on days 1 and 4. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks. Complete responses (CR) occurred in one patient (9%), and partial response (PR) occurred in six patients (55%). Median survival for all patients from the start of the first treatment was 12.5+ months. Median duration of the response was 3.0 months. Median survival of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma was 12.5 months, and for patients with cholangiocarcinoma has not yet been reached. Drug toxicity was mild, and morbidity of the HAI was minimal. Further trials of chemotherapy in these two neoplasms are warranted.