[Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy and loco-regional treatment and irradiation of pancreas tumor in non-resectable pancreas cancer with liver metastases]

Abstract

This study seeks to evaluate arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiotherapy for non-resectable pancreatic cancer with liver metastases. Arterial infusion to the liver was performed in 24 patients, 15 of whom received arterial infusion to the pancreas and 9 of whom underwent irradiation for pancreas tumor (40-50 Gy). However, arterial infusion to the liver alone did not prolong survival, but loco-lesional therapy for the pancreas tumor improved quality of life and resulted in good local control. The survival of the two treatment groups (arterial infusion to the liver combined with loco-regional treatment to the pancreas versus systemic chemotherapy) was statistically different (median 7 months versus 3 months, p less than 0.01). Arterial infusion to the pancreas decreased liver metastases as the first site of failure. These results suggested that arterial infusion to both liver and pancreas combined with irradiation for the pancreas tumor are effective in increasing survival time and improving the quality of life.