Treatment of late-staged pancreatic carcinoma with implantation of 125I seeds in combination with regional arterial infusion chemotherapy

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of combined use of implantation of (125)I seeds with regional arterial infusion chemotherapy on late-staged pancreatic carcinoma. During operation, (125)I seeds were implanted into tumor parenchyma or operative beds for 7 patients with pathological diagnosis of late-staged pancreatic carcinoma, then chemotherapy pump was implanted into common hepatic artery or celiac artery through left gastric artery or right epigastric artery. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2)) plus fluorouracil (500 mg/m(2)) was used for postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy once a week for 7 consecutive weeks. The mean number of implanted (125)I seeds was 42 and the mean dose was 29.4 mCi. The mean follow-up time was 245 days. Rate of pain relief was 100%, metastasis foci was reduced in 2 cases. CA-19-9 Antigen level decreased to normal in all patients. Pancreatic fistula occurred in one case and was cured with conservative therapy. The combination therapy is effective for late-staged pancreatic carcinoma, it brings symptom relief and improvement in quality of life.