[Intraarterial Adriamycin for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver carcinoma].

Six patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 9 patients with metastatic liver carcinoma (MLC) (4 with stomach cancer, 4 with pancreas cancer and 1 with colon cancer) were treated with rapid hepatic artery infusion of adriamycin. Partial response was obtained in 3 patients (44%) with HCC and 2 patients (22%) with MLC. The median survival time was 6 months in HCC patients and 8 months in MLC patients. Patients with elevated serum alkaline phosphatase or those with ascites were poorly prognostic. Myelosuppressive toxicity was seen frequently, but, no life-threatening complications occurred. Other toxicities were generally mild and well tolerated. These results indicated that hepatic artery infusion of adriamycin is a useful treatment modality in the management of both HCC and MLC.