Selective delivery of pepleomycin to esophageal lymph nodes by activated carbon particles.

Selective delivery of a high dose of pepleomycin (PEP) to regional nodes of the esophagus was studied using PEP adsorbed on activated carbon particles (PEP-C) and PEP lipiodol emulsion (PEP-L). PEP-C trans-endoscopically injected into the canine esophageal wall was preferentially retained there for over 7 days and was gradually delivered at a much higher and selective level to 83% of regional nodes, both proximal and distal, for over 7 days, with a much lower level of PEP in the whole body, in comparison with PEP-L and PEP solution.