Weekly cisplatin may reverse liver dysfunction and jaundice caused by diffuse liver metastases of solid tumors

Abstract

M Gabrovska,1 F Geurs,1 S Ponette,2 J Ponette,2 K Bulte,2 L Derveaux,3 I Kempeneers41Depts of Medical Oncology, 2Gastroenterology, 3Pneumology and 4Surgery, Regionaal Ziekenhuis Sint Maria, Halle, BelgiumAbstract: Few data are available on patient management in jaundice caused by liver metastases of solid tumors (nonbreast and noncolon origin). We report the first patient series consecutively treated with cisplatin weekly in patients with severe jaundice and liver failure due to underlying metastatic neoplasms. In 4 out of 8 cases, liver function tests were reversed and jaundice disappeared, permitting subsequent standard chemotherapy. The other 4 patients died 3 to 5 weeks after admission, illustrating the extent and severity of the underlying neoplasm.Keywords: liver failure, jaundice, metastases, chemotherapy, cisplatin