Two case reports with recurrent cancer treated with intraarterial chemoimmunotherapy through the ligated external carotid artery

Abstract

Two cases with recurrent cancer in pterygo palatine fossa or parapharyngeal space were treated with intraarterial chemoimmunotherapy through the ligated external carotid artery. Anti-cancer drugs (CDDP, 5-FU) were injected intraarterially through the external carotid artery, previously ligated at bifercation, followed by killer cells which were induced by mixed lymphocyte and allogeneic tumor cell culture with subsequent recombinant interleukin 2 culture. The therapy was significantly effective in the reduction of tumor mass. We consider the effect was caused by two important factors. One is the ligitation of external carotid artery prior to the intraarterial infusion, which made it possible to provide the infused materials into the most of all branches of the external carotid artery, as indicated by DSA examination. Another factor is an application of the combined therapy of anti-cancer drugs with adoptively given killer cells, which has been reported as highly effective therapy for head and neck cancer.