Hepatic artery infusion with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin-C in metastatic colorectal carcinoma phase II study

Mitomycin C: a clinical update

Mitomycin C was reviewed in this journal 25 years ago and an update of its clinical usefulness is appropriate. The current review is based on representative publications covering clinical trials performed throughout the world. Single agent activity in each of the major neoplastic diseases has been reassessed when possible and the most important combinations evaluated. It is concluded that mitomycin C has a definite place in the treatment of localized bladder cancer, is active, but needs to be redefined, in the context of newer regimens for breast, head and neck, and non-small cell lung cancers, is active in, but is being displaced by, other drugs in cervical, gastric and pancreatic cancers, and is probably no longer of therapeutic value in colon cancer. It is also recognized that as many newer treatments have clinical success, the therapeutic role of mitomycin C will require continuing re-investigation.

Hepatic artery chemotherapy for colorectal liver metastases

Fifty per cent of patients with colorectal cancer develop hepatic metastases but only a minority are candidates for potentially curative surgical resection. Hepatic artery chemotherapy (HAC) has been used to treat patients with non-resectable metastases confined to the liver. Although response rates to HAC have been shown to be higher than response rates to systemic chemotherapy, the advantage in terms of survival has been debated. Furthermore, HAC requires surgical catheter placement which adds to the cost and morbidity of treatment. There have now been eight prospective randomized trials of HAC vs intravenous chemotherapy and/or supportive therapy. The present paper analyses the results of these trials with particular reference to survival. Surgical morbidity, treatment-related toxicity and cost are also discussed.

Intrahepatic mitomycin C as a salvage treatment for patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma

Sixty-four evaluable patients with hepatic metastases from colorectal carcinoma, who did not have evidence of extrahepatic disease, were treated with intrahepatic (IH) mitomycin C (M) after disease progression or intolerance to treatment with IH fluorodeoxyuridine (FUDR). Eleven patients (17%) had a partial response (PR) to IH M and ten (16%) patients had stable disease. Patients who responded to IH FUDR were more likely to respond to IH M when compared with those who progressed on IH FUDR (47% versus 13%, respectively; P = 0.013). Those who were switched to IH M because of hepatotoxicity on IH FUDR also were more likely to respond to IH M than those who were switched because of progression on IH FUDR (75% versus 27%, respectively; P = 0.022). Baseline laboratory values, the percent of tumorous liver involvement, prior history of systemic chemotherapy, and the interval from diagnosis to initiation of IH M did not help predict response. Toxicity was mild and well tolerated. The overall median survival time of the 64 evaluable patients was 9.0 months from the start of IH M therapy. We conclude that IH M has some salvage benefit in patients with hepatic metastases.

Differential tumor regression in patients with bilobar hepatic metastases and dual arterial supply: evidence supporting the advantage of intra-arterial over intravenous route of drug delivery

Two patients with bilobar liver metastases were characterized by dual arterial blood supply to the liver. Treatment of both patients by the administration of chemotherapy, selectively via the arterial branches supplying the respective hepatic lobes bearing the metastases, resulted in differential tumor regression/progression. Thus, while the metastases borne by the arterially infused lobe regressed, the counterpart in the other (systemically infused) lobe showed marked progression. This phenomenon lends strong support to the notion that arterial infusion of chemotherapy in cases of regionally predominant (or confined) neoplastic disease, i.e., in the liver, is superior to the intravenous administration of similar drugs.

Phase II evaluation of sequential hepatic artery infusion of 5-fluorouracil and hepatic irradiation in metastatic colorectal carcinoma

Twenty-seven patients with measurable liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma were entered on a protocol of intermittent hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) followed by consolidation with hepatic irradiation. Five partial responses were observed in 23 evaluable patients. Median duration of response was 3.5 months. A response was evident after chemotherapy alone in four of five responders. Hepatic irradiation converted one patient with stable disease after chemotherapy to a partial responder. Median survival for all patients was 9.0 months (range 1.5-34.0). Combined modality treatment with HAI of 5-FU followed hepatic irradiation was well tolerated but did not appear to be synergistic.

Hepatic artery infusion of 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma

Eleven patients with histologically proven cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder carcinoma were treated with hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C (Mito-C). Catheters were placed percutaneously through the femoral artery. The schedule used was 5-FU 1200/mg/m2/day given as a continuous infusion for 4 days, plus Mito-C 6 mg/m2 on days 1 and 4. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks. Complete responses (CR) occurred in one patient (9%), and partial response (PR) occurred in six patients (55%). Median survival for all patients from the start of the first treatment was 12.5+ months. Median duration of the response was 3.0 months. Median survival of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma was 12.5 months, and for patients with cholangiocarcinoma has not yet been reached. Drug toxicity was mild, and morbidity of the HAI was minimal. Further trials of chemotherapy in these two neoplasms are warranted.