TREATMENT FOR ADVANCED HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA BY TRANSARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY USING RESERVOIRS OR ONE-SHOT ARTERIAL CHEMOTHERAPY

A prospective trial was performed in patients with advanced hepatocell ular carcinoma to assess the therapeutic efficacy of transcatheter art erial chemotherapy using implanted reservoirs (12 patients) or convent ional transcatheter arterial chemotherapy (8 patients). Epirubicin at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) was given every month in the former, while epirub icin at a dose of GO mg/m(2) was administered every 3 months in the la tter. During the 6 months from the introduction of these therapies, ho spitalized periods were shorter and total hospital costs were less in the reservoir group than in the conventional chemotherapy group (p<0.0 5 and p<0.01, respectively). Transcatheter arterial chemotherapy using implanted reservoirs can be carried out on a day-care basis and may b e beneficial for the treatment of patients with advanced hepatocellula r carcinoma.