[Hepatic arterial infusion of etoposide in the treatment of primary liver neoplasms].

A phase 1 study of etoposide for hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma was undertaken by single arterial infusion (9 cases; range of doses levels; step 1: 50 mg/m2, step 2: 75 mg/m2, step 3: 120 mg/m2). Mild leukopenia (2500/mm3 in step 2 and 2400/mm3 in step 3) was observed in 2 cases. Thrombocytopenia or anemia was not observed in these doses. Hypotension was experienced 2 hrs. after infusion in one case of step 2. The post-infusion plasma decay of etoposide was biphasic with t1/2 alpha ranging from 0.59 approximately 0.63 h and t1/2 beta ranging from 5.40 approximately 6.57 h. AUC0-24 increased in association with the increase of the doses. Hepatic artery infusion of etoposide was performed without serious complication and the dose limiting toxicity was leukopenia.