[Enhanced effect of hepatic arterial infused anticancer drugs on rabbit VX-2 carcinoma by means of combination with Lipiodol. Adriamycin versus Lipiodol adriamycin sandwich method and adriamycin suspended in a Lipiodol].

To increase drug delivery to a hepatic malignant tumor, various tissue contents and serum levels of adriamycin (ADR) were evaluated in comparison with different intraarterial injection methods of oily or aqueous solution. VX-2 tumor was implanted in the rabbit liver. ADR was infused through the hepatic artery by the following three methods: Group 1: ADR with physiological saline; Group 2: ADR administered between lipiodol injection; and Group 3: urographin-dissolved ADR suspended in lipiodol. ADR concentrations of the tumor, liver, heart, kidney or bone marrow were compared between these three groups one hour after ADR administration. Tumor uptake and ADR concentration ratio of tumor to liver were higher in Group 3 than in the other two groups. ADR concentration ratio of tumor to liver was higher in group 2 than in group 1. Cardiac and renal uptake in group 3 was less than in group 1 and 2, and so infusion of ADR suspended in a lipiodol may serve to reduce side effects of ADR, especially cardiotoxicity.