Considerable side effects of chemoembolization for colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver

Ann Oncol. 1992 Feb;3(2):113-5. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.annonc.a058123.

Abstract

The feasibility of one whole liver chemoembolization (CE) procedure with Angiostat, a vasoocclusive collagen, mitomycin, doxorubicin, and cisplatin was evaluated in eight patients with unresectable colorectal carcinoma metastatic to the liver and good performance status. One heavily pretreated patient showed a partial response in the liver lasting 188 days. Five patients had stabilization of the disease for 85-150 days. The side effects of the treatment were considerable with a fatigue syndrome lasting up to eight weeks, chemical and ischemic hepatitis, severe thrombopenia (WHO grade 4 in 2 pts) and icterus being the most disturbing toxicities. We recommend to restrict CE to patients with a life expectancy of more than 4-6 months confined to protocols, which evaluate efficacy, toxicity and influence on quality of life of CE with various cytotoxic drugs. We further suggest to perform staged unilobar CE at 4- to 6-week intervals rather than whole liver CE.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Chemoembolization, Therapeutic / methods*
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Collagen / therapeutic use
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / secondary
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitomycins / administration & dosage
  • Nausea / drug therapy
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Pain / drug therapy
  • Pain / etiology
  • Pilot Projects
  • Platelet Count / drug effects

Substances

  • Mitomycins
  • Angiostat
  • Doxorubicin
  • Collagen
  • Cisplatin