Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump (HAIP) chemotherapy

Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump (HAIP) chemotherapy

HAIP chemotherapy has been developed by Dr. N.E. Kemeny, medical oncologist at MSKCC, and has been used for many years in the United States. HAIP chemotherapy involves continues infusion of intra-arterial chemotherapy using an implanted pump. Side-effects are uncommon since the chemotherapy has local effect in the liver. HAIP chemotherapy can be used solely and in combination with systemic chemotherapy. Studied patient groups include patients with resectable and non-resectable colorectal liver metastases and cholangiocarcinomas. The effect of HAIP chemotherapy is a reduction of the recurrence of the cancer in the liver and consequently improved survival in good quality of life. Secondly, HAIP chemotherapy can be used in patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases. In this case, the aim is to prolong survival with good quality of life or, if possible, tumor shrinkage to a resectable state.

Our programme

The Erasmus MC Cancer Institute in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, has started in 2018 in the Netherlands a new program on the introduction of the Hepatic Arterial Infusion Pump (HAIP) chemotherapy for patients with liver tumors in close collaboration with the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

Availability and PUMP trials

Despite promising results, HAIP chemotherapy is not generally available yet. The PUMP study group has initiated several clinical trials to implement HAIP chemotherapy in daily practice in the Netherlands. Both feasibility studies and trials to determine the survival benefit are currently ongoing.

Please contact our research group about our trials or for other additional information.

Academic Centers of Excellence (ACEs) Regional chemotherapy for liver tumors – dr. B. (Bas) Groot Koerkamp

Contact information