[Chemotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma--with special reference to one-shot intra-arterial infusion of a high dose of adriamycin].

Twenty-two cases of non-operable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated with three types of chemotherapy mainly with Adriamycin (ADM). In the group (A), one shot intraarterial infusion of 100 mg ADM into the hepatic artery (9 cases), group (B), one shot intraarterial infusion of 30 mg ADM (3 cases), and group (C), 20-60 mg of systemic administration of ADM (10 cases) were examined. The therapeutic effects and side effects were studied comparatively among these three groups. In terms of tumor regression, RR was 4 cases (44.4%), and MR was 4 (44.4%) in group (A), and PR was 1 (10%) in group (C). The average survival time was 8.3 months (5 cases are still alive) in group (A), 5.7 months in group (B), and 4.2 months in group (C), respectively As side effects, alopecia was found 100% in (A), 33% in (B); leukocytopenia was found 100% in (A), 33% in (B); but no serious complication due to leukocytopenia was observed in any of them. One shot of 100 mg of ADM intraarterial infusion therapy seemed to be superior in therapeutic effects against HCC over other therapies.