Therapy of hepatocellular cancer with combined intrahepatic arterial chemotherapy and whole liver irradiation.

Hepatocellular cancer provides an ideal model for studying combined modality chemotherapy and radiation interactions. We have treated 20 evaluable patients. All patients received intrahepatic arterial (IA) 5 FU (10 mg/kg/d continuous infusion times 5 minus 9 d) + Adriamycin (3-5 mg/m(2)/d bolus times 5 minus 7 d), and 1,500 and 2,100 rads whole liver radiation (300 rads/day). Additionally, 3 patients have received IA Mitomycin C (8 mg/m(2)). After this "induction" therapy patients usually received IV Adriamycin + 5FU +/- Mitomycin monthly. Objective regressions occurred in 9/20 (45%) and another 9/20 (45%) and stable disease. Median duration of response is 5+ months (range 1+ to 8 months). Improvement in liver function tests occurred in 11/19, and local symptomatic relief in 12/15. Median WBC nadir = 4,000; platelet nadir = 115,000. Mild anorexia, fever, and nausea were frequent, but no radiation hepatitis has been detected. This program seems to result in significant clinical benefit (subjective and objective) in this refractory neoplasm.