[Enhanced effect of hepatic arterial infusion of anticancer drugs of rabbit VX-2 hepatic implants].

To obtain a high concentration of adriamycin (ADR) in hepatic malignant tumors, intraarterial injection method was devised depending upon the different application with Lipiodol. The VX-2 carcinoma was implanted in the domestic rabbit after laparotomy. When the tumor grew to 2 cm in size, ADR was infused through the hepatic artery by the following four methods; Group 1, one shot injection of ADR (n = 5); Group 2, ADR infusion between Lipiodol injections (n = 6); Group 3, infusion of Lipiodol suspended with Urographin dissolved in Lipiodol (n = 7); Group 4, ADR dissolved in Lipiodol by Sonicator (n = 5). ADR concentration of the tumor, liver, heart, kidney and bone marrow were measured by HPLC one hour after ADR administration. In Group 3, the concentrations of ADR within tumor were significantly higher than in the other three groups (p less than 0.01 or less than 0.02). In addition, the tumor-to-liver ratio of ADR was significantly higher in the other three groups (p less than 0.05 or less than 0.10). ADR concentration of heart and kidney was lower in Group 3 than in the other groups. These results suggest that Lipiodol may enhance the therapeutic effects of hepatic arterial ADR infusion by hepatic arterial ADR infusion by increasing its tumor uptake.