Hepatic arterial infusion for biliary tract carcinoma: single-center experience.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate a single-center experience in hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of patients with biliary tract carcinomas.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 60 patients treated between 1997 and 2011 was performed.

Results: Most patients were treated with HAI of a combination of 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and cisplatin.

Hepatic arterial infusion of irinotecan, 5-Fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate single center experience with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

Patients And Methods: A retrospective analysis of 68 patients treated between 1998 and 2007 was performed.

Results: Among 60 patients who had no simultaneous liver-directed procedure (LDP), the best results obtained were complete response in two patients (3%), partial response in 18 patients (30%), and stable disease in 23 patients (38%), for an overall disease control rate of 72%.

Liver metastases from uveal melanoma: clinical experience of hepatic arterial infusion of cisplatin, vinblastine and dacarbazine.

Background/aims: Liver is the most common site of metastases in uveal melanoma. Hepatic arterial infusion of cytotoxic agents may be an effective method of controlling the disease in these patients.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis of 10 patients with hepatic metastases of uveal melanoma treated with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of the combination of cisplatin, vinblastine and dacarbazine was performed.

Survival of patients with colorectal cancer liver metastases treated by regional chemotherapy.

Background/aims: Liver is the most common site of metastatic disease in colorectal cancer. Superior response rate was demonstrated in trials comparing hepatic arterial administration of cytotoxic agents with systemic chemotherapy.

Methodology: Records of 109 consecutive patients with colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver treated by regional chemotherapy, who underwent implantation of a port system into hepatic artery or portal vein tributaries between 1991 and 1999, were reviewed and survival was evaluated using the log-rank test and multivariate analysis (Cox's proportional hazard regression).

Regional chemotherapy in patients with breast carcinoma liver metastases.

Background/aims: Although liver is a common site of metastases in breast cancer, isolated liver metastases in patients with disseminated breast cancer are rare. The role of liver-directed therapies in these patients is based on data derived from retrospective analysis of case series.

Methodology: We have reviewed the records of 8 patients with liver metastases and a history of breast cancer treated at our institution over a period of 11 years with regional chemotherapy administered through surgically implanted port systems.

Pathological complete response in advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumor after imatinib therapy.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a rare neoplasm exhibiting, in most cases, mutations of c-kit. Recently it has been demonstrated that a majority of GIST patients with c-kit mutations respond to therapy with imatinib, a c-kit tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Although the response rate in patients treated with imatinib in prospective clinical studies is above 50%, complete response is rare, and the data on the use of imatinib as neoaduvant therapy facilitating radical surgery is still scanty.

Radio-guided sentinel node detection during the surgical treatment of rectal cancer.

Objective: The detection of sentinel nodes is performed in various types of malignant disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the radiodetection of sentinel nodes, based on the use of Tc-colloid, during the surgical treatment of rectal cancer.

Methods: In 2003-2004, 42 patients (24 males and 18 females; average ages of 62.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in sarcoma liver metastases: a report of 6 cases.

Aims And Background: Liver metastases in patients with sarcoma are rare and associated with a poor prognosis. The experience with liver-directed therapies, eg hepatic arterial infusion, in these patients is limited.

Methods: Six patients with sarcoma metastatic to the liver (4 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors and 2 patients with leiomyosarcoma) were treated by hepatic arterial infusion in our center over a 12-year period.

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in gastric cancer: a report of four cases and analysis of the literature.

Aims And Background: Gastric cancer is associated with high mortality. Although the liver is a common site of metastases in this tumor, the experience with liver-directed therapies is limited.

Methods: We report a single-center experience involving four patients with liver metastases from gastric cancer treated by hepatic arterial infusion (HAI).

Regional chemotherapy in biliary tract cancers--a single institution experience.

Background/aims: The prognosis of biliary tract cancers is poor. The aim of the present report was to analyze retrospectively the effectiveness of regional chemotherapy in patients with biliary tract cancers treated at a single institution.

Methodology: Thirty-two patients with biliary tract cancers, 17 patients with cholangiocarcinoma and 15 patients with gallbladder carcinoma, were treated by regional administration of the chemotherapy, usually the combination of 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin and folinic acid.