PURPOSE: There is no standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastases. We assessed the efficiency and safety of the oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug S-1 combined with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) for HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases. METHODS: Twenty-nine HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases received S-1/IFN. One cycle of combination therapy represented 2 weeks followed by 2-4 weeks of rest. In each cycle, S-1 was administrated orally at 80-120 mg (depending on body surface area) every day and IFN-alpha intramuscularly at 5 million units thrice weekly. RESULTS: The overall response of 29 patients was complete response (CR) in 4 (14%), partial response (PR) in 1, stable disease in 4, progressive disease in 12, and dropout in 8 patients. Objective response (CR + PR) was 17%. The time to progression and survival rate were significantly higher in patients with lung metastases (n = 19) than in those with painful bone metastases (n = 7; p = 0.0058 and 0.0015). With regard to NCI-CTC grade 3 adverse reactions, 3 (10%), 3 (10%) and 2 (7%) patients developed anorexia, leukopenia, and neutropenia, respectively. No grade 4 adverse reaction or toxicity-related death occurred. CONCLUSION: S-1/IFN is a potentially safe and suitable combination therapy for HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases, especially those with lung metastases. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
PURPOSE: There is no standard treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastases. We assessed the efficiency and safety of the oral fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug S-1 combined with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) for HCCpatients with extrahepatic metastases. METHODS: Twenty-nine HCCpatients with extrahepatic metastases received S-1/IFN. One cycle of combination therapy represented 2 weeks followed by 2-4 weeks of rest. In each cycle, S-1 was administrated orally at 80-120 mg (depending on body surface area) every day and IFN-alpha intramuscularly at 5 million units thrice weekly. RESULTS: The overall response of 29 patients was complete response (CR) in 4 (14%), partial response (PR) in 1, stable disease in 4, progressive disease in 12, and dropout in 8 patients. Objective response (CR + PR) was 17%. The time to progression and survival rate were significantly higher in patients with lung metastases (n = 19) than in those with painful bone metastases (n = 7; p = 0.0058 and 0.0015). With regard to NCI-CTC grade 3 adverse reactions, 3 (10%), 3 (10%) and 2 (7%) patients developed anorexia, leukopenia, and neutropenia, respectively. No grade 4 adverse reaction or toxicity-related death occurred. CONCLUSION:S-1/IFN is a potentially safe and suitable combination therapy for HCCpatients with extrahepatic metastases, especially those with lung metastases. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Su Jin Lee; Jeeyun Lee; Se Hoon Park; Joon Oh Park; Young Suk Park; Won Ki Kang; Jongtae Lee; Dong-Seok Yim; Ho Yeong Lim Journal: Invest New Drugs Date: 2011-06-22 Impact factor: 3.651