Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy versus isolated upper abdominal perfusion for advanced pancreatic cancer: a retrospective cohort study on 454 patients.
J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019;
145:2855-2862. [PMID:
31506738 PMCID:
PMC6800855 DOI:
10.1007/s00432-019-03019-6]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
The treatment of pancreatic carcinoma remains a challenge as prognosis is poor, even if confined to a single anatomical region. A regional treatment of pancreatic cancer with high drug concentrations at the tumor site may increase response behaviour. Intra-arterial administration of drugs generates homogenous drug distribution throughout the entire tumor volume.
Methods
We report on treatment outcome of 454 patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma (WHO stage III: 174 patients, WHO stage IV: 280 patients). Patients have been separated to two different treatment protocols. The first group (n = 233 patients) has been treated via angiographically placed celiac axis catheters. The second group (n = 221 patients) had upper abdominal perfusion (UAP) with stopflow balloon catheters in aorta and vena cava. Both groups have been treated with a combination of cisplatin, adriamycin and mitomycin.
Results
For stage III pancreatic cancer, median survival rates of 8 and 12 months were reached with IA and UAP treatment, respectively. For stage IV pancreatic cancer, median survival rates of 7 and 8.5 months were reached with IA and UAP treatment, respectively. Resolution of ascites has been reached in all cases by UAP treatment. Toxicity was generally mild, WHO grade I or II, toxicity grade III or IV was only noted in patients with severe systemic pretreatment. The techniques, survival data and detailed results are demonstrated.
Conclusions
Responsiveness of pancreatic cancer to regional chemotherapy is drug exposure dependent. The isolated perfusion procedure is superior to intra-arterial infusion in survival times.
Electronic supplementary material
The online version of this article (10.1007/s00432-019-03019-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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