There are new and innovative treatment methods. Treating liver metastases with intra-arterial chemotherapy—5-FUDR—by infusion pump can improve the response rate to about 50 percent. But several studies have shown side effects—increased liver toxicity, scarring of the bile duct (biliary sclerosis) and liver function abnormalities, gastritis, diarrhea and pain—that required dose reductions in about 40 to 50 percent of patients (see"METASTATIC CANCER"). Recent studies have reduced toxicity by alternating 5-FU and 5-FUDR therapy. Response to 5-FUDR intra-arterial therapy often occurs even in patients who failed to respond to intravenous 5-FU or who are no longer responding.
