INTRA-ARTERIAL CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY BY MEANS OF AN IMPLANTABLE VASCULAR ACCESS DEVICE

Abstract

Thirty cancer patients were treated by using a vascular access devices (VAD) combined with radio-frequency local hyperthermia (RFLH) with or without charcoal hemoperfusion. The mean observation period was 7.85 months. Favorable responces (better than minor response by the criteria for the evaluation of responces to treatment for solid cancer) were obtained in 40% of the patients.
Complications occurred in 26.7% of the patients. However, none of them were serious. The complication rate was only one complication for every 841 days of cumulative function time of the 30 patients. The complications were local hematoma around the VAD (2 cases), duodenal ulcer (1 cases), ulcer in the perineal and gluteal region (2 cases), thrombosis of the catheter of the VAD (3 cases).
The incidence of local hematoma and thrombosis of the catheter were reduced after the medical staff were familiarized with the techniques of implantation and maintenance of the VAD. Ulcers did not occur also after the tip of the catheter was more super-selectively placed, or the anticancer agent was more selectively given by embolization of the gastro-duodenal artery or superior gluteal artery.
Application of the VAD is considered safe and useful for intra-arterial cancer chemotherapy.