Efficacy of transarterial interventional therapy in the treatment of metastatic liver cancer.

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of transarterial interventional therapy (TAIT) in treating patients with metastatic liver cancer, and to investigate the factors influencing the prognosis of patients. Methods From January 1997 to June 2000, 470 patients with metastatic liver cancer had undergone TAIT 1231 times in the Cancer Hospital of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. The short-term and long-term efficacy and the side effect of TAIT were assessed. The potential factors influencing the prognosis of the patients were determined by Cox regression analysis. Results Complete remission was observed in 94 patients, and partial remission in 143. The total effective rate was 50.4% (237/470). The median survival time was 13.5 months. The O. 5-, 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-year survival rates were 86.4%, 66. 8%, 35.6%, 16.9%, 7.3%, respectively. No severe complication occurred. The factors influencing the prognosis of the patients were: the resection of the primary tumor, blood supply of the tumor, multiple metastases of liver cancer, thrombus in the portal vein, adjuvant chemotherapy after TAIT, tumor originated from breast cancer, tumors invading multiple lobes, concurrent metastasis in other sites (X2= 17. 322, 12. 593, 8.721, 8.573, 8.492, 7. 838, 5. 623, 5. 463, P < 0.05). Conclusions TAIT is an effective palliative therapy for metastatic liver cancer which cannot be resected. The factors mentioned above influence the prognosis of patients after TAIT. Key words: Liver neoplasms; Radiography,interventional; Treatment outcome