[A comparison of intra-arterial chemoembolization and infusion chemotherapy for liver metastases of breast cancer].

Seventeen patients with liver metastases of breast cancer were treated with a combination of intra-arterial chemotherapy and endocrine therapy at our hospital from 1986 to 1994. Of 17 patients, 9 were treated with transarterial chemoembolization through hepatic artery using 40-50 mg/body of 4'epi-adriamycin (epi-ADM) and lipiodol, and the other 8 were treated with hepatic infusion chemotherapy using 20-30 mg/body of epi-ADM every 2 weeks. All patients were followed by endocrine therapy with oral administration of 800-1,200 mg/day of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA). The results were as follows: 1) The comparison of response rate between the two groups was not substantially changed (44.4% x 4/9 in TAE group and 50.0% x 4/8 in Reservoir group). 2) Duration of response was 4-45 months (mean 25 months) in TAE group and 3-15+ alpha months (mean 8.7 months) in Reservoir group. But in the latter group, 3 patients are now under treatment. 3) At one year, the survival rates were 44.4 percent in TAE group and 50.0 percent in Reservoir group. We conclude that combination of intra-arterial chemotherapy and endocrine therapy is a useful treatment modality for controlling liver metastases of breast cancer.