Doxorubicin Beads in Treating Patients With Unresectable Liver Metastases From Neuroendocrine Tumors

OBJECTIVES: Primary * To gather preliminary data and determine the feasibility of a randomized study of patients with unresectable hepatic neuroendocrine metastases using PVA microporous hydrospheres/doxorubicin hydrochloride. OUTLINE: A catheter is placed into the right or left hepatic artery. Patients with unifocal tumors will have the catheter or microcatheter placed more selectively into the 2nd or 3rd order branch off the right or left hepatic artery in closer proximity to the tumor. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) microporous hydrospheres/doxorubicin hydrochloride mixture is injected into the delivery area. Patients with less than 75% necrosis at 1 month undergo a second (and possibly a third a month later) chemoembolization. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed at 1 month, every 2 months for 1 year, and then every 3 months for 1 year.