Prospective randomized trial of hepatic artery chemotherapy with cisplatin and doxorubicin, with or without lipiodol in the treatment of advanced stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: This randomized study assessed the responses in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to hepatic arterial doxorubicin plus cisplatin, with or without lipiodol.

Patients And Methods: Patients with unresectable and biopsy-proven HCC were treated with doxorubicin (30 mg/m) plus cisplatin (100 mg/m) without (Solution) or with (Lipiodol) emulsification every 2 months till tumor progression. Primary end point was response.

Contrast extravasation predicts the need for operative intervention in children with blunt splenic trauma.

Background: Although the presence of a contrast blush (CB) on computed tomographic (CT) scan is associated with an increased failure rate of nonoperative management in adults with blunt splenic injury, little information is available for the pediatric population, where nonoperative management is the standard of care. Our aim was to determine whether the finding of CB on CT scan could predict failure of nonoperative therapy in children with blunt splenic injury.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 343 patients admitted with blunt splenic injury to our Level I pediatric trauma center over a 7-year period was performed.

Phase II study of Spherex (degradable starch microspheres) injected into the hepatic artery in conjunction with doxorubicin and cisplatin in the treatment of advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma: interim analysis.

Patients with advanced-stage unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were treated with intrahepatic arterial doxorubicin 30 mg/m2 plus escalating doses of cisplatin up to 100 mg/m2 in conjunction with rapid bolus injection of Spherex (degradable starch microspheres; Kabi Pharmacia, Lund, Sweden) into the hepatic artery, until slowing or reversal of blood flow. Treatments were repeated every 4 to 6 weeks until progression, or were continued indefinitely if there was disease stability or response. Thirty-five evaluable patients have so far been accrued to the study.

Hepatic artery angioplasty after liver transplantation: experience in 21 allografts.

Purpose: To assess whether percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) can help prolong allograft survival and improve allograft function in patients with hepatic artery stenosis after liver transplantation.

Patients And Methods: Hepatic artery PTA was attempted in 19 patients with 21 allografts over 12 years. The postangioplasty clinical course was retrospectively analyzed.

Treatment of hepatic-metastatic colorectal cancer with a chemotherapeutic emulsion: interim results of a phase I trial.

Background: Hepatic arterial infusion of 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (FUdR) is associated with a 60% response rate among previously untreated patients who have hepatic-metastatic colorectal cancer. One obstacle to further dose escalation has been concomitant hepatic toxicity. We are evaluating a FUdR-containing chemotherapeutic emulsion to further dose intensify therapy without associated toxicity.