[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced liver metastases from lung cancer via implantable vascular access: report of six cases].

Six patients with advanced liver metastases judged as a survival limiting factor from lung cancer were treated with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy employing totally implantable vascular access. The treatment regimen included 5-FU/CDDP/EPIR/MMC/etoposide in various combinations and this therapy was repeated as long as possible. There were no serious side-effects or complications, such as bone marrow suppression or gastrointestinal symptoms. The therapy could be continued for a mean duration of 7.2 months (ranging from 2 to 13 months). Cause of death was due to extra-hepatic lesion in all 5 patients. The direct effect on liver metastases reviewed on CT scan was 83.3% (CR: 1, PR: 4, NC: 1), and the median survival period was 108 days (for small-cell group: 92 days; for non-small-cell group: 407 days). We conclude that this therapy is useful in the treatment of liver metastases from lung cancer because of its limited toxicity and high direct effect.