Multiple arterial infusions with 5-fluorouracil.

Abstract

AbstractBetween 1964 and 1969, 24 patients were treated with multiple intra‐arterial 5‐FU infusion. A total of 64 infusions were used: 19 received 2 infusions, 2 received 3, and the remaining 3 patients received 5, 6, and 9 infusions, respectively. The catheter was placed percutaneously through the brachial artery. The criteria for improvement included at least 6 cm decrease in distance of the liver edge from the xiphoid or costal margin, a 50% decrease in the abnormal enzyme studies, a return of elevated bilirubin levels to normal so that jaundice disappeared, and all these responses continued for at least 2 months. Inpatients were treated with 5‐FU, 25 mg/kg/day × 4, then 15 mg/kg/day for 17 days at which time the catheter was removed. Outpatients received 500 mg daily in 140 ml 5% dextrose and 2,500 units heparin daily for 90 days, and then the catheter was removed. Following the termination of each infusion, the patient was given weekly intravenous doses of 5‐FU at 15 mg/kg. After several months, with reactivation of the disease, the intraarterial infusion was repeated. Minimal toxicity and morbidity occurred and there were no deaths. In 24 patients. 56 or 87.6% of the 64 courses of infusion met our criteria of improvement. The average duration of infusion response was 7.2 months. Overall average survival from initiation of infusion therapy was 19.7 months.