Adjuvant hepatic arterial IL-2 and MMC, 5-FU after curative resection of colorectal liver metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Based on our favorable results of interleukin-2-based immuno-chemotherapy in the treatment of unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer, we utilized this therapy for the prevention of liver recurrence after liver resection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen patients with colon cancer metastatic to the liver underwent successful hepatic resection and adjuvant immunochemotherapy that included hepatic arterial infusion of interleukin-2 and mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil. The regimen consisted of weekly interleukin-2 (1.4-2x 10(6) units), 5-fluorouracil (250 mg) by 2-hour infusion and bolus mitomycin C (4 mg) for 6 months.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 18 patients are alive and disease-free with a median postoperative follow-up of 28.5 months. Recurrent cancer has developed in 4 of the 18 patients (22%). The site of first recurrence was the lung in three patients (17%) and the pelvis in one (6%); no patients recurred in the liver.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend this adjuvant immuno-chemotherapy for the prevention of liver recurrence after curative resection of colorectal liver metastases.