Enhanced effect of adriamycin on a rat liver adenocarcinoma after hepatic artery injection with degradable starch microspheres.

Rats with solitary liver tumors were treated with adriamycin administered via the hepatic artery with and without degradable starch microspheres. Tumor growth inhibition was significantly greater, and tumors were decreased in size 7 days after, following treatment with adriamycin + microspheres. The bone marrow seemed to be protected. However, the addition of microspheres to adriamycin gave a body weight loss and evidence of increased liver damage. Possible interrelations between liver damage, antitumor effect and body weight loss are indicated.