Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: analysis of 114 cases

Abstract

We evaluated the predictors for response and survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). A total of 114 patients with advanced HCC were enrolled in this study from our hospital during the previous 12-year period. Patients received one of several regimens of HAIC based on low-dose FP (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil). Fifteen patients received low-dose FP alone, 71 received low-dose FP and leucovorin or isovorin, and 28 received low dose FP and isovorin with interferon. The overall response rate was 36%, and the overall 1-, 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year cumulative survival rates were 43.9, 10.0, 5.6, 2.8, and 2.8%, respectively (Median survival time, 10.2 months). Multivariate analyses showed tumor stage to be a significant predictor for response, and showed Child-Pugh score, therapeutic effect, and additional therapy to be significant predictors for survival. Therefore, we believe that patients who achieved a complete response or partial response and received additional therapies had improved survival.