Phase II study of hepatic artery infusion with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin C (FAM) in liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma.

Twenty-seven patients with liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma were treated with 5-fluorouracil, adriamycin, and mitomycin C (FAM) by hepatic artery infusion (HAI) every 2-3 months for a maximum of eight courses. Median survival for all patients was 22 months. Toxicity was acceptable and consisted in severe myelosuppression (8%), duodenal ulceration (8%), moderate nausea and vomiting (50%), and alopecia (100%). HAI with FAM is feasible and may have an impact on survival. Further studies are needed to determine the role of HAI, which may be of potential benefit to a substantial number of patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.