Theme |
Hilar and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma |
Title |
Arterial Infusion Chemoradiotherapy for Hilar Bile Duct Cancer |
Author |
Hirofumi Hokotate |
Department of Radiology, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital |
Author |
Hiroya Saito |
Department of Radiology, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital |
Author |
Akio Takamura |
Department of Radiology, Asahikawa Kosei General Hospital |
[ Summary ] |
Radiotherapy is considered to be useful for the treatment of inoperable hilar cholangiocarcinoma. We have performed intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with radiotherapy with the hope of inducing strong antitumor responses. We believe that intra-arterial chemoradiation therapy makes biliary tact stenting unnecessary and delays the implementation of stenting, thereby contributing to the avoidance of serious complications associated with stenting. One-year and 3-year survival rates after chemoradiation therapy were 70 % and 26 %, respectively. Treatment outcomes were not always satisfactory, although they tended to be better than those obtained with radiotherapy alone. Further investigation is warranted to select the most appropriate drug for intra-arterial infusion and to consider the concomitant use of systemic chemotherapy in providing maintenance therapy. |