Usefulness of operative portal vein and postoperative hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy after resection of pancreatic cancer. : with special reference for preventing liver metastasis

This study was undertaken to determine whether or not intraportal and intrahepatic arterial one-shot infusion chemotherapy can prevent hepatic metastasis after resection of pancreatic cancer. Eight patients received 20 mg of mitomycin C in the portal vein during the operation and postoperatively they received 20 mg of mitomysin C in the hepatic artery by Seldinger's method at three-month intervals(Group A). Fifteen patients received no chemotherapy before or after the operation (Group B). The histological type and size of the tumor , nodular involvement and the degree of surrounding tissue invasion did not differ significantly between the two groups. The cumulative survival rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 100%, 60% and 20% respectively after resection in Group A. On the other hand, in Group B, the cumulative survival rates 1, 2 and 3 years after resection were 44%, 17% and 7% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between Group A and Group B. But in Group A, no patient died from recurrence of cancer with in one year and 8 patients died of cancer recurrence in Group B. The recurrent forms of cancer in Group B were liver metastasis in 6 patients and local recurrence in 2 patients. Therefore, our method seems beneficial for preventing hepatic metastasis for patients who have received resection of pancreatic cancer.

pancreatic cancer

liver metastasis

portal vein infusion chemotherapy