Abstract
Background/Aim: Recently, there has been the launch of the new Polyethylene glycol (PEG) drug-eluting beads (LifePearl®) for transarterial chemoembolization. Their innovation is that PEG guarantees more compressibility, elasticity and maximizes beads' suspension time. We applied these beads for hepatic intra-arterial infusion of irinotecan or doxorubicin for the therapy of primary and metastatic liver cancer. Patients and Methods: We treated 20 consecutive patients, affected by unresectable primary liver cancer (PLC) or hepatic metastases (refractory to chemotherapy) using chemoembolization with doxorubicin or irinotecan pre-loaded Lifepearls. Results: Tumor response rate was >80% in most patients with 63% of complete and 37% of partial response. We observed no complications during the chemoembolization and no severe general drug-related side-effects. Conclusion: Our data suggest that chemoembolization with LifePearl® is efficacious and safe for the treatment of liver cancer as indicated by good tolerability, quality of life and high tumor response.
- LIFIRI®
- LIFDOX®
- liver metastases
- chemoembolization
- liver cancer
- irinotecan
- doxorubicin
- polyethylene glycol drug-elutable beads
- Received March 29, 2016.
- Revision received June 9, 2016.
- Accepted June 10, 2016.
- Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved