Background: Both hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy and cetuximab (CET) have interesting activity for the treatment of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRC-LM).
Patients and methods: Intravenous CET with HAI oxaliplatin (OXA) or i.v. Irinotecan (IRI) followed by HAI of infusion of folic acid modulated 5-fluorouracil 5-FU/l-FA was administered to patients (pts) with CRC-LM who had failed at least one line of prior chemotherapy.
Results: Eight pts received i.v. CET with HAI-OXA (5 pts) and i.v.-IRI (3 pts) and HAI-5-FU/l-FA. Adverse events: repeated grade 3 skin toxicity (1 pt), abdominal pain with elevated liver enzymes and asthenia (2 pts), duodenal ulcer (2 pts) with catheter migration and intestinal bleeding (1 pt), reversible interstitial pneumonitis (1 pt), and cystic bile duct dilatation (2 pts) with arteriobiliary fistulisation (1 pt). A partial response was documented in 5 pts (62%). The median time to progression was 8.7 months (95% confidence interval 8-14 months).
Conclusion: Intravenous administration of CET with HAI of chemotherapy is feasible and has promising activity but is associated with specific toxicity.