Pathological complete remission of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma with main portal vein tumor thrombosis by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy.

Cures for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) are rare and difficult. We report a case of pathologically confirmed complete remission of HCC induced by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). A 45-year-old male patient had a massive HCC in the right lobe of the liver and tumor thrombus in the right and main portal veins. He achieved a partial response after two cycles of HAIC with 5-fluorouracil (750 mg/m(2)) and cisplatin (25 mg/m(2)). After the completion of six cycles he received a curative partial hepatectomy, and histopathology revealed complete necrosis without any viable tumor cell. He was in good health at a 4-month follow-up. These results suggest that this regimen is a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of advanced HCC with PVTT.