A CASE OF LUNG ADENOCARCINOMA METASTASIZED TO THE LIVER RESPONDING TO ARTERIAL CHEMOEMBOLIZATION THERAPY WITH DSM + MMC

Abstract

Liver metastases from advanced lung carcinoma have not been the target of aggressive treatment probablybecause of poor results. However, the recent progress of arterial chemoembolization therapy may make it possibleto improve the response. We present a case of multiple liver metastases detected 18 months after curative resectionof lung adenocarcinoma responding to the intermittent arterial infusion with degradable starch microsphere (DSM). With this therapy tumor markers markedly decreased, and all small metastatic lesions disappeared onimaging examinations. Single residual metastatic lesion in the liver diminished from 55mm to 30mm in diameter, so the lesion was surgically resected.The resected specimen was mostly necrotic with a few surviving colonies ofsignet ring cell carcinoma.The patient died of liver recurrence 17 months later, i.e., 25 months after initiation ofarterial infusion therapy. This type of chemoembolization therapy has been employed for 7 cases of small cellcarcinoma of the liver metastasized from lung cancer in the literature, and 4 of the 7 cases responded to the therapy.Aggresive application of this therapy for liver metastasis of lung cancer may bring better prognosis to these patients.