A case of colon cancer with local recurrence successfully treated by systemic and local intra-arterial chemotherapy using a combination of 5-fluorouracil, interferon-alpha 2A, leucovorin and carboplatin

A 59-year-old man with colon cancer was diagnosed as having a local recurrence of the disease, forming a huge intra pelvic tumor, accompanied by pulmonary metastasis 16 months after hemicolectomy. He received alternate systemic and local chemotherapy consisting respectively of a 5-day course of continuous infusion of 5-FU 600 mg/m2/day, bolus injection of leucovorin (LV) 20 mg/m2/day, intramuscular injection of interferon (IFN)-alpha 2a 6 x 10(6) IU/day, and intra-arterial administration of 5-FU, LV and carboplatin using reservoir catheter through pudendal artery, each repeated every 3 weeks. After 6 systemic and 8 local treatments, metastatic lesions disappeared and the intra-pelvic tumor shrunk by 62%, indicating a partial response. The patient then underwent dissection of the intra-pelvic tumor. Pathological examination indicated a curative resection. Alternate systemic and local intra arterial chemotherapy using a combination of 5-FU, LV, IFN and and carboplatin is highly promising for metastatic colorectal cancer with local recurrence.