Thomas Josef Vogl MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Nagy N. N. Naguib MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Lehnert MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Nour-Eldin Abdelrehim Nour-Eldin MD, MSc, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Katrin Eichler MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stefan Zangos MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Beeres MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Tatjana Gruber-Rouh, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To evaluate local tumor control and survival data after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with different drug combinations in the palliative treatment of patients with liver metastases of gastric cancer

The retrospective study protocol was approved by the institutional review board, and informed consent was obtained from all patients prior to treatment. 58 patients (mean age, 52.4; range 36-75 years) with unresectable liver metastases of gastric cancer that did not respond to systemic chemotherapy were repeatedly treated with TACE in 4-week intervals. In total, 320 chemoembolization procedures were performed (mean, 5.5 sessions per patient). The local chemotherapy protocol consisted of mitomycin alone (29.3%), mitomycin with gemcitabine (32.8%), or mitomycin in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin (37.9%). Embolization was performed with lipiodol and starch microspheres. Local tumor response was evaluated by MRI according to the RECIST criteria. Survival data from first chemoembolization were calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier method. Correlations between disease status or treatment variables and survival were tested in univariate analysis using log-rank test.

Local tumor control was: complete response in 1.8% (n=1), partial response in 1.8% (n=2), stable disease in 51.8% (n=30), and progressive disease in 44.6% (n=25) of patients. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survival rate from the start of chemoembolization was 58%, 38%, and 23%. Median and mean survival times were 14 and 28.3 months. Statistically significant difference between patients treated with different chemotherapy protocols was noted (ρ=0.044) with the best survival time in the mitomycin, gemcitabine and cisplatin group.

Transarterial chemoembolization is a minimally invasive therapy option for palliative treatment of liver metastases in patients with gastric cancer.

TACE is a relevant palliative treatment option for patients with liver metastases from gactric cancer.

Vogl, T, Naguib, N, Lehnert, T, Nour-Eldin, N, Eichler, K, Zangos, S, Beeres, M, Gruber-Rouh, T, Repetitive Transarterial Chemoembolization (TACE) of Liver Metastases from Gastric Cancer: Local Control and Survival Results.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11005506.html