Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) Therapy for Colorectal Cancer with Tumors in the Liver (Mets)

Is Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) therapy right for me?

If you have colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver, you may want to consider Hepatic Artery Infusion (HAI) therapy.

HAI therapy allows oncologists to deliver medicine directly to tumors in the liver. Your care team may recommend HAI therapy in the following situations:

• For colorectal cancer patients with tumors in the liver that cannot be surgically removed due to size, number, or location.

HAI therapy may shrink tumors in the liver to the point they can be surgically removed or disappear altogether.

• Following the surgical removal of tumors in the liver (metastases) from colorectal cancer (adjuvant therapy).

After tumors in the liver are removed, microscopic cancer cells may remain in your liver. HAI therapy may be used to treat these cells before they can grow into tumors.

Learn more about whether HAI may be an option for you and connect with an HAI specialist.

Your surgeon may implant the pump as a stand-alone surgery or during other scheduled surgeries, such as the removal of existing tumors. After your pump is implanted, you will have a scan to make sure it is in place and connected directly to the liver. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and recovery time will depend on the extent of any other surgery you had at the time of the pump implant.

Once you have recovered from your surgery, your oncologist will begin HAI therapy. The pump is filled with medicine which flows continuously to your liver via the hepatic artery. Your own body heat activates the pump, so there are no batteries, motors, or gears that can stall or fail. Every two weeks, your pump will be refilled with a simple injection that takes about 15 minutes. After active treatment is completed, refill visits can be extended to every few months.

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How will the pump impact my daily life?

Once you have recovered from your surgery, you will be able to travel, exercise, and continue most of the activities you enjoyed before your pump was implanted. Your care team will give you specific guidelines to follow, but there are a few limitations to consider:

• Avoid rough contact sports and deep sea/scuba diving. 
• Avoid excess heat on the pump site including heating pads, hot water bottles, saunas, hot tubs, and prolonged direct sun exposure. Higher body temperatures can cause your pump to flow faster.
• Changes in elevation can impact the pump flow rate. Tell your doctor if you plan to travel by air or spend time at another location as your medication may need to be adjusted.

Will the pump be noticeable?

There will be a slight bulge in your abdomen where the pump is implanted. It may take some time to get used to it, but many patients report that eventually, they did not even remember it was there.

Read stories of survivors living with the pump

Clinical studies

Clinical studies show that adding HAI therapy improved survival and reduced chances of recurrence in colorectal cancer patients.^{1, 2, 3, 4}

Where can I find an HAI specialist?

There are currently over 65 HAI centers across the United States, with more locations opening around the country.

• To connect with an HAI specialist near you, fill out this simple form.
• Intera Oncology, the pump’s manufacturer, will contact you to provide direct information about HAI therapy and help you find an HAI specialist.

Patient Testimonials

Surviving Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases - Don Shippey: From Stage IV to Six Years Cancer-Free After Receiving HAI Pump

Don Shippey was 55 years old in 2016 when he decided he’d been putting off his colonoscopy long enough. Having had no symptoms or other known risk factors, Don figured he was unlikely to have any problems.

Read more

Surviving Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases - Marsha S: Being the CEO of her treatment saved her life after receiving HAI Pump

Marsha, at the age of 41, began experiencing stomach pains. Concerned, she consulted her gastroenterologist, who ordered a biopsy. The results revealed a stage III colon cancer diagnosis. 

Following a colon resection and chemotherapy, Marsha received a positive prognosis. However, fate took an unexpected turn. Routine bloodwork and a PET scan uncovered a large liver tumor, prompting a reclassification to stage IV.

A New Trajectory: Watch Thomas' story about how HAI therapy changed his life.

Diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at age 36, Thomas was given months to live. After receiving a second opinion and a Hepatic Artery Infusion pump, his trajectory changed.

¹Dhir et al. Ann Surg Oncol. 2017;24, 150–158; ²Groot Koerkamp et al. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35:17, 1938-1944; ³Kemeny et al. N Engl J Med. 1999;341(27):2039-48; ⁴Pak et al. J Surg Oncol. 2018; 117: 634– 643.

The Intera 3000 Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump is indicated for the continuous arterial administration of JND Therapeutics Floxuridine for Injection, USP, heparinized saline, and glycerin. The approved labeling for JND Therapeutics Floxuridine for Injection, USP stipulates the indications, contraindications, and warnings for use of the drug in the pump. The Intera 3000 Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump is contraindicated for use in patients with extensive extrahepatic disease or limited hepatic function. Possible adverse events of the pump are those potential risks associated with any implanted drug delivery device and include: catheter thrombosis, bolus path occlusion, vessel thrombosis, pump dislodgement, seroma, or recurrent hematoma, infection, extravasation, catheter shear, dislodgement or leakage, migration, arterial pseudoaneurysm, arterial dissection, and extrahepatic perfusion.

Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts this device to sale by or on the order of a physician. Please review the full safety information at https://www.interaoncology.com/patients-caregivers/hai-therapy/safety-information.