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Intraarterial combined immunochemotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results

  • Original Articles
  • Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Combined Immunochemotherapy, Interleukin-2, OK-432
  • Published:
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Abstract

An important objective for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the development of effective chemotherapy. We administered a combination of biological response modifiers and anticancer agents to 24 patients with unresectable HCC. Each case had an implanted infuser port which was connected to a catheter placed in the hepatic artery for the intraarterial (i.a.) administration of chemotherapy. The following agents were administered to each patient: recombinant interleukin-2 (800 000 JRU/day infused i. a. continuously for 6 days/week); OK-432 (5 KE injected i. a. twice in 4 weeks and i. m. three times per week); Adriamycin (10 mg injected i.a. twice in 4 weeks); cyclophosphamide (300 mg injected i. a. twice in 4 weeks), and famotidine (40 mg/day administered orally). Objective response was assessed according to tumor size measured by computed tomography and angiography before and after treatment. We observed a complete response (CR) in 4, partial response (PR) in 3, minor response (MR) in 7, no change (NC) in 7, and progressive disease (PD) in 3. The response rate (CR+PR+MR) was 58.3%. The overall 2-year survival rate was 52%. The 2-year survival rate of the responders (CR+PR+MR) was 80%, while that of the non-responders (NC+PD) was 0%. There was a significant difference between the responders and non-responders in respect to survival rate (P<0.05). The percentages of CD25+ cells, CD56+ cells, and Leu7-CD16+ cells and NK activity in the peripheral blood showed a significant increase following the regimen. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α TNFα rose after the initiation of OK-432. TNFα levels were higher in the responders than in the non-responders. Adverse effects included high fever (all patients) and severe transient hypotension (15 patient) that was controlled by convervative therapy. Combined immunochemotherapy administered intraarterially may be a new strategy for treating unresectable HCC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Second Department of Surgery, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, 1144 Kogushi, 755, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan

    Masaaki Oka, Shoichi Hazama, Shigefuml Yoshino, Kouji Shimoda, Michinari Suzuki, Ryouichi Shimizu, Kazuma Yano, Minekatsu Nishida & Takashi Suzuki

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  1. Masaaki Oka
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  2. Shoichi Hazama
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  3. Shigefuml Yoshino
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  4. Kouji Shimoda
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  5. Michinari Suzuki
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  6. Ryouichi Shimizu
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  7. Kazuma Yano
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  8. Minekatsu Nishida
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  9. Takashi Suzuki
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Oka, M., Hazama, S., Yoshino, S. et al. Intraarterial combined immunochemotherapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: preliminary results. Cancer Immunol Immunother 38, 194–200 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01525641

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01525641

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