[Prevention of hepatic metastases in rabbits by administration of an oily anticancer agent into the portal vein].

We studied one kind of prophylactic chemotherapy against hepatic metastases. The therapy was carried out with a lymphographic oily contrast medium. Lipiodol, and a high-molecular-weight anticancer agent known as SMANCS. SMANCS was dissolved in Lipiodol by sonication (SMANCS/Lipiodol, 1 mg of SMANCS in 1 ml of Lipiodol). SMANCS/Lipiodol, administered into the portal vein, remained for a long time in the portal vein and was eliminated gradually through the bile and urine. SMANCS/Lipiodol (0.4ml/kg) was injected into the mesenteric vein in rabbits, which were then inoculated with the highly malignant carcinoma VX-2. Rabbits injected with SMANCS/Lipiodol before inoculation had significantly fewer hepatic metastases than the control 12 days later (P less than 0.001). Survival was significantly longer (P less than 0.005; 36.0 +/- 7.7 days) with SMANCS/Lipiodol before inoculation than without treatment (23.5 +/- 3.0 days). Hepatic metastases might thus be prevented by portal administration of an appropriate oily anticancer agent.