Intraarterial infusion of high-dose adriamycin for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma using direct hemoperfusion under hepatic venous isolation.

A 67-year-old man with an extensive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was treated successfully with intraarterial infusion of high-dose adriamycin (ADR), 150 mg/m2, five minutes continuous infusion using an extra-corporeal system consisting of direct hemoperfusion (DHP) under hepatic venous isolation (HVI). During drug infusion, hepatic effluent was isolated and adsorbed by the DHP for 30 mins. Plasma ADR levels in the radial artery reached a peak of 2.00 micrograms/ml at five mins after the initiation of drug infusion. Peak values at the inlet and outlet of the DHP were 19.71 micrograms/ml and 1.75 micrograms/ml, respectively, indicating substantial drug adsorption by the DHP. The estimated drug removal rate was 31.1%. This treatment led to a marked regression of tumors with tolerable systemic toxicities. Although the patient subsequently died 9 months after treatment of progression of disease, this treatment resulted in a remission of significant duration.