CHEMOEMBOLIZATION WITH MITOMYCIN C MICROCAPSULES (MMC-mc) IN THE TREATMENT OF BONE METASTASES FROM PROSTATIC AND RENAL CANCER

Abstract

The patients having bone metastases from prostatic and renal cancer, of whom 4 were resistant to prior radiotherapy, hormone therapy and/or chemotherapy, were subjected to arterial chemoembolization with mitomycin C microcapsules. In these patients, 12 metastatic lesions in the pelvic bone (5), lumbar spine (3), scapula (1) and rib (1) were treated. The mean size of the target lesions was 41.5cm² (range, 6-143). The mean number of microcapsule infusion into the tumor supplying arteries was 2.6 (1 to 10) and the mean interval of repeat infusion in 6 patients was 6.4 months (0.5 to 28). A complete remission of pain was obtained in 9 (75%) of the 12 evaluable lesions and a partial remission in 3 (25%).
Motor disturbances were remarkably improved in all of the evaluable 6 lesions. Objective tumor respose such as recalcification and reduction of size or vascularity was found in 9 (75%) of the evaluable 12 lesions. These effects were maintained for the mean follow-up period of 17.1 months (3 to 48). The results will indicate that this therapy can be used as an effective measure in the treatment of metastatic bone tumors.