forms of cancer can be treated using the regional chemotherapy method, as some are not suitable for highly concentrated chemotherapy. “RCT is best suited for patients with solid tumours. The redeeming aspect of this method is that it works right away or not at all,” he says. Cancers of body organs generally
show a good response rate to regional chemotherapy. These include breast and lung cancer, carcinomas of the stomach, liver, pancreas, prostate, ovaries and anus, and head and neck tumours. Just as in conventional cancer treatment, the greater the proportion of the body affected by the tumour, the smaller are the chances of success. While tumours in their early stages are good to treat with regional chemotherapy, Prof. Aigner and his team have achieved excellent results even in late stages and supposedly hopeless cases. Various medical studies have published results pointing to convincing data in terms of tumour response, quality of life and survival of those treated with RCT. For instance, it has been well established that pancreatic cancer responds well to RCT when other chemotherapies have failed. Breast cancer too has been treated
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with almost no side effects and without amputation. The response rate of breast cancer has been 80-95% with RCT. Additionally, even advanced cancers
of the bladder and the prostate are treated by means of the isolated pelvic perfusion technique with chemofiltration, avoiding mutilating surgery, impotence and incontinence.
Isolated perfusIon Isolated perfusion is one among the three main techniques of regional chemotherapy. Here, the specific organ’s blood supply is separated from that of the rest of the body, allowing chemotherapy to be administered directly to the organ in amounts that would not be safe if it is circulated throughout the body. The result is that the tumour disappears more rapidly. Prof. Aigner, a German surgeon who
initially had his training in cardiovascular surgery and later specialised in cancer surgery, was familiar with the technique of isolated profusion of the limb that was first performed in the US in the 1950s. In 1981, he became the first surgeon worldwide to develop, and safely perform, a technique of isolated perfusion of the liver with a heart-
lung-machine – a process that is similar to a bypass surgery of the heart. It took more than 15 years for this method to be accepted by the National Cancer Institute in the US where currently, it is performed as a routine procedure. After having developed the technique of
isolated liver perfusion, Dr. Aigner continued his endeavour to isolate all different body parts, segments and organs of the body with the latest development being the isolated perfusion of the upper abdomen. Though these techniques are not new, their practice has been limited primarily because technical skills and sufficient experience are required to perform it properly with good results. Elimination or reducing side effects to the patient through the chemofiltration or detoxification process ensures that the patient’s quality of life is protected during the intensive treatment.
Looking back on his almost 30 years of
experience with regional chemotherapy, Dr. Aigner believes that RCT is an extremely effective method in cancer therapy that is well tolerated by patients, causing no side effects in most cases, and one which increases the survival rate not by a few months, but many years. ■
AH
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