Transarterial infusion chemotherapy with epirubicin in water-in-oil-in-water emulsion for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma in the residual liver after hepatectomy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the midterm results of transarterial infusion (TAI) with water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion containing an anticancer agent for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after surgical resection. Materials and methods We retrospectively analyzed the results of TAI of W/O/W emulsion containing epirubicin for 18 consecutive patients with recurrent HCC after surgical resection. Fourteen patients were males and four were females; their ages ranged from 51 to 86 years (mean 69.8 years). TAI was repeated every 1–6 months based on the response of the tumor. A total of 41 TAI procedures were performed for 18 patients. Angiographically, recurrent HCC appeared a single nodule in nine patients and was multinodular in other nine patients. TAI was performed selectively in 27 procedures and non-selectively in 14 procedures. Maximum response within 3 months was rated as follows: a complete response (CR, complete disappearance of tumor and no evidence of new lesions); partial response (PR, a reduction of