ABSTRACT
The purpose of the present multi-center collaborative study was to elucidate the efficacy of intraportal chemotherapy with the combination of 5-FU and MMC for the prevention of liver recurrence after resection for colorectal cancer. A total of 125 patients with Stage II, III, and IV colorectal cancer were enrolled in this study between June 1993 and December 1995. Of them, 45 patients were randomized to a portal group: 10 mg/body of mitomycin one shot portal infusion, before and after 500 mg/m2 of 5-FU per 24 h for 7 days portal infusion followed by administration of oral 5-FU. Fifty-three patients were randomized to a control group: oral administration of 5-FU. Twelve patients suffered from temporary mild liver damage. One patient (2%) in the portal group and 6 patients (11%) in the control group developed liver metastases; there was not a significant difference between these two groups regarding development of liver metastases. There was also no significant difference by tumor stage between the portal and control groups regarding development of liver metastases. The 5-year survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival were 84.3% and 81.9%, respectively, in the portal group, and 70.7% and 72.4%, respectively, in the control group; the difference was not significant. Although there was not a significant difference between the portal and control groups regarding the prognosis in stage II, there was a significant difference between the portal and control groups regarding the 5-year disease free survival in stage III (81.1% vs 54.2%). These results suggest that intraportal chemotherapy is effective for stage III colorectal cancer.
