Hepatic arterial infusion for biliary tract carcinoma: single-center experience.

AIM The aim of the present study was to evaluate a single-center experience in hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) of patients with biliary tract carcinomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of 60 patients treated between 1997 and 2011 was performed. RESULTS Most patients were treated with HAI of a combination of 5-fluorouracil, folinic acid and cisplatin. The response was not evaluable in most patients, predominantly because of prior surgical procedures. The median survival of all patients was 15.1 months (5-year survival=13%). The survival was significantly better in patients treated with radical surgery (median=50.1 months, 5-year survival=45%) or palliative surgery (median=22.5 months, 5-year survival=13%) compared to no surgery (median=7.6 months, 5-year survival=3%). CONCLUSION The current data demonstrate the efficacy of HAI in patients with biliary tract carcinoma. HAI is a therapeutic method to be considered in patients with inoperable biliary tract carcinoma and no extrahepatic spread.