[Endoscopic injection of methotrexate bound to activated carbon particles in the treatment of gastric cancer].

A new dosage formulation (MTX-CH), composed of fine activated carbon particles absorbing methotrexate (MTX), distributes concentrated MTX for long periods of time to the regional lymph nodes as well as to the injection site, in animal experiments. MTX-CH would enhance the therapeutic effects not only on the primary lesion but also on the lymphatic metastasis. As clinical trials, (A) in five patients with early gastric cancer, MTX-CH at 50 to 200 mg/person of MTX was injected endoscopically in and around the primary lesion before operation. Surgically removed specimens showed that three out of the 5 primary lesions had disappeared or were necrotic, and the remaining two lesions had shrunk. (B) Three patients with contraindication to surgery received the endoscopic injection of MTX-CH. The MTX-CH injected at 250 to 1,500 mg/person into and around the primary lesion of relatively early gastric cancer resulted in the complete disappearance of the primary lesions for 14 to 24 months up to the present time without enlargement of the lymph nodes. It was thought that local injection of MTX-CH will be effective therapy, especially for gastric cancer with potential lymphatic metastasis in patients with contraindications to surgery.