Transarterial chemoembolization of liver metastases from well differentiated gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors with doxorubicin-eluting beads: preliminary results.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of progressive liver metastases from well differentiated gastroenteropancreatic endocrine (GEP) tumors with drug-eluting beads (DEBs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2004 to July 2005, eight men and 12 women aged 34 to 75 years (mean +/- SD, 59 y +/- 12), including 13 patients with bilobar disease and seven with unilobar disease, underwent 34 sessions of TACE with DEBs (500-700 mum) loaded with doxorubicin. Morphologic response was evaluated with computed tomography (CT) at 1 and 3 months according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors. Clinical and laboratory data were also assessed.

RESULTS: The complete dose of 4 mL of DEBs loaded with 100 mg doxorubicin was injected during 22 TACE sessions and 1-3.5 mL of DEBs was injected during 12 TACE sessions. Three months after TACE, 16 of 20 patients (80%) exhibited a partial response, three (15%) had stable disease, and one (5%) had progressive disease. The mean size of the largest metastasis in each patient decreased from 42 mm +/- 24 before treatment (median, 39.5 mm) to 33 mm +/- 23 (median, 29 mm) 1 month after treatment and 30 mm +/- 21 (median, 26.5 mm) 3 months after treatment. After a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 6-24 months), nine patients' disease remained controlled without tumor progression and 10 patients had progressive disease. The median time to progression was 15 months. Postembolization syndrome lasted less than 7 days in 23 sessions (67%) and more than 7 days in seven sessions (22%), and no symptoms at all were observed in four sessions (11%). Peak aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and bilirubin levels after TACE were 35-490 IU (mean, 125 IU +/- 77; normal, <35 IU), 20-440 IU (mean, 149 IU +/- 155; normal, <45 IU), and 8-90 mol/L (mean, 26 IU +/- 25; normal, <17 IU), respectively, at 2-3 days. In five patients, follow-up CT at 1 month revealed TACE-induced peripheral liver necrosis.

CONCLUSIONS: TACE with DEBs is well tolerated and appears effective. A comparative study with a standard TACE or transarterial embolization regimen is warranted to define the best protocol for transarterial treatment of GEP liver metastases.