Hepatic recurrence not prevented with low-dosage long-term intraportal 5-FU infusion after resection of colorectal liver metastasis

Seventeen patients with colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver underwent hepatic resection. For five we prescribed adjuvant therapy which included intraportal mitomycin C (MMC) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and consecutive oral administrations of tegafur (N₁-(2'-tetrahydrofuryl)-5-fluorouracil), in an attempt to reduce recurrences in the liver. retraportal chemotherapy consisted of low-dosage, long-term 5-FU infusion, 40 days at 250 mg/day, and a 10 mg bolus injection of MMC at the start and the end of continuous 5-FU infusion. With regard to postoperative events in patients given the infusion therapy, there was no hepatotoxicity or hematologic toxicity, no mechanical complications and no pain or vomiting. Two of five patients given infusion therapy and six of 12 not given the therapy died within 5 years after surgery. There was recurrence in the liver in two patients given infusion therapy and in four not given the therapy. Although low-dosage, long-term intraportal chemotherapy is a safe treatment given hopefully to prevent hepatic recurrence, we found no beneficial effect.