Hepatic arterial infusion with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and doxifluridine for unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer.

AIM: To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and doxifluridine through hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) in patients with unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Individual patients were treated through the tumour-blood supplying arteries with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and doxifluridine and chemoembolised with irinotecan and lipiodol for the detected hypervascular lesions. RESULTS: A total of 173 cumulative cycles of chemotherapy were performed for the 32 patients, with a median of 5.0 cycles, including 96 chemoembolisations. Fifteen patients reached partial remission, 14 patients had stable disease and only 3 patients had progressive disease. The overall response rate was 46.9%. Of the 32 patients, 18 patients received first-line treatment with an overall response rate of 61.1%. The remaining 14 patients received second-line treatment, with an overall response rate of 28.6%. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy through HAI is well tolerated and highly effective in patients with unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer.