BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the efficacy of pulmonary artery infusion (PAI) via post-catheter connecting system in patients with lung cancer after lobectomy.

METHODSNinety patients were randomized into two groups after lobectomy and each group had 45 patients. The PAI group received chemotherapy via pulmonary artery, while the VI group received chemotherapy via peripheral vein.

RESULTSThe PAI group totally received 215 cycles of chemotherapy, 4.8 cycles in average. The VI group received 195 cycles, 4.3 cycles in average. The 1-, 3-, 5-year survival rates in PAI group were 88.9%, 77.8%, 47.4% respectively, and 82.2%, 53.3%, 20.5% in VI group. And there were significant differences in the 3- and 5-year survival rates between the two groups (P < 0.05). The 3-year local recurrence rate was 12.8% for radical lobectomy patients in PAI group, and 35.0% in VI group (P < 0.05). The 1-, 3-, 5-year metastatic rates after lobectomy were 17.8%, 20.0%, 26.3% respectively in PAI group, and 15.6%, 35.6%, 51.3% respectively in VI group. And there were significant differences in the 3- and 5-year metastatic rates between the two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPulmonary artery infusion for lung cancer patients after lobectomy can reduce the post-operative recurrence and metastasis and improve the long-term survival rates.