Case report: recurrent parapharyngeal space cancer treated with intraarterial chemo-immunotherapy through the ligated external carotid artery

Abstract

A sixty-nine year-old male with laryngeal cancer, treated previously with radiation to the primary site, suffered a recurrence of cancer in the parapharyngeal space. Cis-Diamminedi-hloride platinum and 5 Flurouracil were injected intraarterially through the external carotid artery, previously ligated at bifurcation, followed by killer cells which had been induced in culture by mixed lymphocyte and allogenic tumor cells, with subsequent recombinant interleukin-2. The therapy significantly reduced the tumor mass. Two factors were considered responsible for this effect. The ligation of the external artery prior to the intraarterial infusion made it possible to provide direct infusion into most branches of the external carotid artery, demonstrated by Digital Subtraction Angiography examination. The application of the combined anticancer drugs and the killer cells may also have been a factor, and has been reported as highly effective therapy for head and neck cancer.