Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) Therapy
What is hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy?
Hepatic artery infusion (also called hepatic arterial infusion pump chemotherapy
or HAI) is an innovative treatment for patients with certain metastatic
colorectal and bile duct cancers that affect the liver.
HAI therapy employs a palm-sized pump that is implanted below the skin
in the abdomen. Utilizing this precision-based approach enables medical
professionals to deliver potent doses of chemotherapy directly to the
liver, allowing for a higher drug concentration in the tumor area.
After treating the tumor(s), the liver efficiently clears the drug, mitigating the systemic side effects that may be associated with conventional chemotherapy. Individuals receiving HAI therapy are able to continue their normal daily activities with minimal disruption to their lives.
What are the benefits of HAI?
HAI provides the potential for curative therapy for patients who did not previously have those options before. Both primary and metastatic liver cancer can be treated with HAI therapy. Specifically, it is used for conditions like cholangiocarcinoma, a primary liver tumor, as well as metastatic tumors, such as those originating from the colon or rectal.
HAI therapy can be used before surgery to shrink tumors, after surgery to kill any lingering cancer cells, or instead of surgery for liver tumors that are too extensive or numerous to be removed. By shrinking or even eliminating tumors, this therapy may extend patients' lives, ease their symptoms and, in some cases, keep the tumors from coming back.
What is the advantage of HAI Therapy over systemic chemotherapy alone?
HAI therapy delivers the chemotherapy directly to the liver, making the concentration of chemotherapy that reaches the tumors significantly higher. Most people with HAI pumps still need IV chemotherapy to kill cancer cells outside of the liver.
Are patients’ activities limited while they receive HAI therapy?
Once recovered from surgery, patients will be able to continue most of
the activities they enjoyed before. Patients’ doctors or nurses
will be able to offer specific guidelines about several important things
HAI patients should keep in mind while living with the pump.
During active treatment, office visits will reoccur every two weeks so
progress can be checked and the pump can be refilled. Refilling the pump
takes 10 to 15 minutes. If you're not having active chemotherapy, the
pump may be refilled with an inert material, such as saline or glycerin,
to keep it operational. If your doctor decides you're done with HAI, the
pump can be removed.