BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no standard treatment of inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. STUDY: A patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with intravenous infusion of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx) in combination with ultrasound hyperthermia of the liver. Each cycle consisted of infusion of 60 mg of PLD followed by two fractions of hyperthermia 41 degrees C to 43 degrees C for 45 minutes 1 and 48 hours after infusion, respectively. RESULTS: A substantial regression of the tumor was observed on computed tomography scans. No toxicity of combined treatment was noted. CONCLUSIONS: This may be the first report of the combination of PLD and hyperthermia in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Our observation suggests that the combination of PLD with hyperthermia is technically feasible, well tolerated, and could have synergistic potential.
BACKGROUND: Currently, there is no standard treatment of inoperable advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. STUDY: A patient with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with intravenous infusion of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD, Caelyx) in combination with ultrasound hyperthermia of the liver. Each cycle consisted of infusion of 60 mg of PLD followed by two fractions of hyperthermia 41 degrees C to 43 degrees C for 45 minutes 1 and 48 hours after infusion, respectively. RESULTS: A substantial regression of the tumor was observed on computed tomography scans. No toxicity of combined treatment was noted. CONCLUSIONS: This may be the first report of the combination of PLD and hyperthermia in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Our observation suggests that the combination of PLD with hyperthermia is technically feasible, well tolerated, and could have synergistic potential.