Bronchial arterial infusion is an effective therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer - Results of a pilot study

Objective: This pilot study was done to assess the effectiveness of bronchi al arterial infusion (BAI) as a therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer. Patients and methods: Seven patients who had endoscopically evaluated, cent rally located early-stage squamous cell lung carcinoma, including three pat ients with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers, were offered BAI with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP; dosage, 50 to 150 mg/body, 35 to 100 m g/m(2)), a radical therapeutic method, as an alternative to a resection. Results: AU early-stage lesions showed complete remission within 1 to 6 wee ks (median, 3.3 weeks) after BAI. In the three patients with multiple lung cancers, BAI was used to treat accessible early-stage lesions, although a s urgical resection was required for advanced lesions. Three of the seven pat ients suffered from severe bronchial ulcers after BAI, Six of the patients in the study had no disease relapse to date at a median follow-up time of 1 9.8 months (range, 11 to 32 months), but the other patient died of a pulmon ary hemorrhage 3 months after BAI. Conclusion: Based on our findings, BAI with CDDP should be reappraised as a n effective therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung can cer and as an acceptable primary treatment.