Combination of Bronchial Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy plus Drug-Eluting Embolic Transarterial Chemoembolization for Treatment of Advanced Lung Cancer—A Retrospective Analysis of 23 Patients

Abstract

PurposeTo determine the efficacy and safety of the combination of bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) chemotherapy and transarterial chemoembolization with the use of drug-eluting embolic (DEE) particles in the treatment of unresectable advanced lung cancer. Materials and MethodsA retrospective review was performed of 23 patients with unresectable lung cancer (stage III/IV) who received BAI chemotherapy and DEE chemoembolization. Treatment response was assessed by enhanced CT and evaluated on the basis of Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors at 30 d after the last combination treatment. Patients were followed up until death or March 15, 2020, whichever was first. Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan–Meier analysis, and factors associated with OS were evaluated by Cox proportional-hazards test. ResultsComplete response, partial response, stable disease, and progressive disease were seen in 2, 16, 5, and 0 patients at 30 d after the last combination treatment, respectively; therefore, the overall response rate was 78.3% and the disease control rate was 100%. Preprocedure symptoms (hemoptysis in 7 patients and dyspnea in 10) resolved in all cases after combination therapy. Nineteen patients died during follow-up, and 4 survived. Median OS was 15.6 mo (95% confidence interval, 10.1–21.1 mo). On univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, tumor/node/metastasis staging was an independent risk factor for prognosis. There were no serious adverse events during the procedures. ConclusionsThe combination of BAI chemotherapy plus DEE chemoembolization appears to be a promising method for treatment of advanced lung cancer.