Liver Cancer Treatment & Ongoing Care

Hepatic Artery Infusion

HAI is the infusion of chemotherapeutic agents into the major artery to the liver (the hepatic artery). It has generally been used in patients with colon or rectal metastases to the liver. A pump is implanted at an operation in which a tube (catheter) is threaded into the hepatic artery. Subsequently, chemotherapy drugs are injected periodically through the skin into the chamber of the pump, which then through a gas driven bellows puts the right amount of chemotherapy drug right into the liver itself.

Use & Research with Hepatic Artery Infusion

Hepatic Artery Infusion is often used as a sidekick, or adjuvant, treatment to resection or RFA in the management of metastatic colorectal cancer to the liver. Some studies have suggested a small benefit to HAI but there is still not a consensus as to its clear benefit. Researchers in upstate New York, at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, and at the University of California in San Francisco have been leaders in advocacy of this technique.

The ACOSOG (American College of Surgeons Oncology Group) has instituted a trial under the leadership of Yuman Fong of Memorial Sloan Kettering to study the use of HAI in association with resection and ablation. I believe that this is a worthy trial and I will be looking into joining this effort soon.

Contact my office to learn more about Hepatic Artery Infusion and other methods of liver cancer treatment.