OBJECTIVE: To develop a new treatment for advanced pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS:Twenty-nine patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma (12 patients with liver metastasis at the same time) were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (n = 11), patients underwent bilio-enterostomy and/or gastro-enterostomy combined with systemic chemotherapy after surgery. In group B (n = 18), patients underwent bilio-enterostomy and/or gastro-enterostomy combined with peripancreatic arterial ligation and arterial infusion regional chemotherapy. Twenty-four patients were followed up for 3 - 18 months. The palliation of clinical symptoms, changes in carcinoma size by B ultrasound (BUS) and CT scan, survival period and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were observed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Symptoms were alleviated in most patients in group B, and BUS and CT scan showed that tumor volume decreased in group B. The response rate was 66.7% in group B and 18.2% in group A (P < 0.01). The mean survival period was 4.8 +/- 0.6 months in group A and 12.5 +/- 1.2 months in group B (P < 0.01); there were significant differences between the two groups. The decrease in serum CEA was 54% in group A and 60% in group B; the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION:Peripancreatic arterial ligation combined with arterial infusion regional chemotherapy is effective against both pancreatic carcinoma and with liver metastases. It can alleviate clinical symptoms, postpone the growth rate of tumor and prolong the survival period.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To develop a new treatment for advanced pancreatic carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with advanced pancreatic carcinoma (12 patients with liver metastasis at the same time) were randomly divided into two groups. In group A (n = 11), patients underwent bilio-enterostomy and/or gastro-enterostomy combined with systemic chemotherapy after surgery. In group B (n = 18), patients underwent bilio-enterostomy and/or gastro-enterostomy combined with peripancreatic arterial ligation and arterial infusion regional chemotherapy. Twenty-four patients were followed up for 3 - 18 months. The palliation of clinical symptoms, changes in carcinoma size by B ultrasound (BUS) and CT scan, survival period and serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were observed and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Symptoms were alleviated in most patients in group B, and BUS and CT scan showed that tumor volume decreased in group B. The response rate was 66.7% in group B and 18.2% in group A (P < 0.01). The mean survival period was 4.8 +/- 0.6 months in group A and 12.5 +/- 1.2 months in group B (P < 0.01); there were significant differences between the two groups. The decrease in serum CEA was 54% in group A and 60% in group B; the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Peripancreatic arterial ligation combined with arterial infusion regional chemotherapy is effective against both pancreatic carcinoma and with liver metastases. It can alleviate clinical symptoms, postpone the growth rate of tumor and prolong the survival period.