OBJECTIVE: This pilot study was done to assess the effectiveness of bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) as a therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients who had endoscopically evaluated, centrally located early-stage squamous cell lung carcinoma, including three patients with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers, were offered BAI with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP; dosage, 50 to 150 mg/body, 35 to 100 mg/m2), a radical therapeutic method, as an alternative to a resection. RESULTS: All early-stage lesions showed complete remission within 1 to 6 weeks (median, 3.3 weeks) after BAI. In the three patients with multiple lung cancers, BAI was used to treat accessible early-stage lesions, although a surgical resection was required for advanced lesions. Three of the seven patients suffered from severe bronchial ulcers after BAI. Six of the patients in the study had no disease relapse to date at a median follow-up time of 19.8 months (range, 11 to 32 months), but the other patient died of a pulmonary hemorrhage 3 months after BAI. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, BAI with CDDP should be reappraised as an effective therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer and as an acceptable primary treatment.
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study was done to assess the effectiveness of bronchial arterial infusion (BAI) as a therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients who had endoscopically evaluated, centrally located early-stage squamous cell lung carcinoma, including three patients with synchronous multiple primary lung cancers, were offered BAI with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (CDDP; dosage, 50 to 150 mg/body, 35 to 100 mg/m2), a radical therapeutic method, as an alternative to a resection. RESULTS: All early-stage lesions showed complete remission within 1 to 6 weeks (median, 3.3 weeks) after BAI. In the three patients with multiple lung cancers, BAI was used to treat accessible early-stage lesions, although a surgical resection was required for advanced lesions. Three of the seven patients suffered from severe bronchial ulcers after BAI. Six of the patients in the study had no disease relapse to date at a median follow-up time of 19.8 months (range, 11 to 32 months), but the other patient died of a pulmonary hemorrhage 3 months after BAI. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, BAI with CDDP should be reappraised as an effective therapeutic modality for centrally located early-stage lung cancer and as an acceptable primary treatment.