BACKGROUNDTo study the effect of selective bronchial artery infusion (BAI) and chemotherapy in the treatment of patients with intermediate and advanced lung cancer.

METHODSForty-five cases of advanced lung cancer were treated by BAI, which were compared with 40 cases of advanced lung cancer treated by systemic chemotherapy.

RESULTSThe response rate of BAI (33/44, 75.0%) was better than that of systemic chemotherapy (20/40, 50.0%)( P < 0.05). The side-effect of BAI was lower than that of systemic chemotherapy ( P < 0.05), but one case occured paraplegia after BAI. The response rate of small cell undifferentiated lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma was 94.5% (17/18), 66.6% (14/21) and 40.0% (2/5) respectively in the BAI group. Significant difference of the response rate was found in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma between the two groups ( P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBAI has better response rate and less toxicity than systemic chemotherapy in intermediate and advanced lung cancer, especially in patients with squamous cell carcinoma. Small cell undifferentiated lung carcinoma should be treated by systemic chemotherapy firstly and then BAI. Adenocarcinoma should be treated by BAI firstly and then other therapy.