Long-term outcomes with hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy for advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) of chemotherapy has demonstrated disease control in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC). Combined analysis of a phase 2 trial and a retrospective cohort of unresectable advanced IHC patients of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (New York, NY) evaluated long-term outcomes with HAI chemotherapy (floxuridine) plus systemic gemcitabine and oxaliplatin for advanced IHC. In the phase 2 trial, median progression-free survival was 11.8 months (95% CI 11.0-15.1) whereas the median overall survival was 26.8 months (20.9-40.6) with a five-year OS rate of 21%. In the retrospective cohort, the median PFS and OS were 7.93 months (95% CI 7.27-10.07) and 22.5 months (19.5-28.3). The authors conclude that in patients with advanced IHC, HAI with floxuridine in combination with systemic chemotherapy can offer long-term durable disease control.