Initial assessment of early response to hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy using lipiodol, cisplatin, and 5-fu for locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the early response (ER) in patients who had locally advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) of Lipiodol, Cisplatin, and 5-FU.

Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective study involving ten locally advanced HCC patients, each received an implanted subcutaneous port for HAIC. The treatment regimen consisted of Lipiodol, Cisplatin, and 5-FU. One week after the first course, the patients were examined, performed CT-scanner and categorized into complete response (CR), partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) using mRECIST criteria.

Results: 6 patients (60%) patients had ER after treatment, with one of thesse (1%) achieving CR and five (50%) with PR. One patient (10%) exhibited PD, while two (20%) demonstrated SD. Mean viable tumor portion size decreased from 102±41mm to 83±53mm, statistics significance with p <0.05. Furthermore, the portal vein tumor thrombosis shrunk in 2 patients (20%), and liver function improved in 2 patients (20%). Mean tumour diameter Complications occurred in three patients (30%), including infection, hematoma, thrombosed catheter, and catheter breakage. Conclusions: The HAIC regimen consisting of Lipiodol, Cisplatin, and 5-FU achieved a high rate of early response (ER), the shrinkage of portal vein tumor thrombosis, and improved liver function.