[Evaluation of 5-fluorouracil concentration in peripheral blood and side effects in continuous hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for patients with unresectable liver cancer].

Fourteen patients with unresectable primary or metastatic liver cancer were divided into two groups: group A, continuous hepatic arterial infusion of 5-FU in 10 cases; group V, continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU in 4 cases. In group A, 5-FU (360 mg/m2/day x 5 days/week x 4 weeks) was continuously infused into the hepatic artery via femoral or gastroduodenal artery through Infuse A Port. In group V, 5-FU (360 mg/m2/day x 2 weeks) was continuously infused into the subclavian vein through IVH route. On day 1, the concentration of 5-FU in peripheral blood in group A (12.1 +/- 12.8 ng/ml) was significantly lower than in group V (43.8 +/- 19.8 ng/ml, p = 0.004). On day 5, it was also decreased in group A (24.6 +/- 24.1 ng/ml) compared with that in group V (61.8 +/- 34.4 ng/ml, p = 0.039). Side effects of 5-FU like nausea, abdominal discomfort and stomatitis were recognized in 4 out of 10 patients in group A (40%) and 3 out of 4 patients in group V (75%). In group A, a complete response was obtained in one patient with synchronous multiple liver metastases of sigmoid colon cancer. These results suggest that systemic toxicity of 5-FU is alleviated by continuous hepatic arterial infusion in the patients with unresectable liver cancer because of its low concentration in peripheral blood.