[A case of an elderly patient having advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava treated with chemo-radio-therapy--intraarterial infusion of weekly high dose 5-FU (WHF)]

Gan To Kagaku Ryoho. 2006 Nov;33(12):1768-70.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

The patient was an 81-year-old man, diagnosed with advanced huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with tumor thrombus extending into the inferior vena cava (Vv3), for which resection was judged impossible. The radio therapy (51 Gy) for tumor thrombus was carried out, and he received a weekly hepatic arterial infusion therapy (weekly high-dose 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)) for these legions. After 8 cycles, the CT scan revealed a minor response of the tumor (SD), and,the tumor marker reduced. After 10 months, these legions had markedly regressed (PR), the tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava was not detectable. There were no severe side effects. Ten months since the start of chemo-radio therapy, the positron emission tomography (PET) revealed a metastatic tumor of the femoral bone in recurrence. In conclusion, some elderly patients of advanced HCC with tumor thrombus may obtain a long term survival through this treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / radiotherapy
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intra-Arterial
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology*
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / radiation effects
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / pathology*

Substances

  • Fluorouracil