A case of unresectable advanced gallbladder cancer treated by systemic chemotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion

A 53-year-old woman was revealed to have gallbladder cancer with liver metastases (H 1). Since a curative operation is impossible in this case, we started systemic chemotherapy employing S-1 combined with hepatic arterial infusion using epirubicin hydrochloride and mitomycin C. After three months, the primary lesion was reduced in size. The patient has been receiving systemic chemotherapy using S-1 only as an outpatient for 16 months. Although there is not enough evidence to support standard treatment, systemic chemotherapy combined with hepatic arterial infusion would improve the survival time without deterioration of quality of life in patients with advanced gallbladder cancer. This combined therapy should be considered one of the promising strategies for advanced gallbladder cancer.