A case of locally extended rectal carcinoma quickly responding to local intraarterial infusion therapy

Chemotherapy combined with 5-FU and l-leucovorin has been reported to elicit a quick response in cases of lower rectal carcinoma. A 65-year-old woman developed pain in the right gluteal region due to locally extended rectal carcinoma, and was treated with intraarterial infusion therapy. The chemotherapy regimen was 5-FU (500 mg/body) and l-leucovorin (175 mg/body) administered over 3 hours once weekly to bilateral reservoirs through an infuser pump. After 2 sessions of the chemotherapy, the gluteal pain decreased, and after 3 sessions, CEA level was confirmed and the patient's QOL began to improve. Side effects of the intraarterial infusion chemotherapy were gluteal dermatitis, leg desensitization, and infection of the circumferential reservoir. Local intraarterial infusion chemotherapy can be safely performed on an outpatient basis, and appears to elicit quick response for locally extended advanced rectal carcinoma.