Experimental study on chemotherapy using adsorbent charcoal with CDDP administered directly into the mediastinum following esophagectomy.

In this study, 1500AA, an activated charcoal with a strong affinity for the lymphatic system, was examined for its ability to deliver chemotherapy to metastatic lymph nodes. First, the anticancer effect on metastatic lymph nodes was assessed in an experiment using the mouse mammary tumor, MM48. Pathological examination of the inguinal lymph nodes revealed a metastatic rate of 50% in the group given cisplatin (CDDP)-saline, but 20% in the group given CDDP-charcoal. Next, in a canine model, CDDP dissolved in normal saline was administered directly into the mediastinum, and CDDP was given with fine particles of activated charcoal in the same manner in the other group. The concentration of CDDP in the lymph nodes and the plasma rapidly increased to peak in 10 min in the CDDP-saline group, whereas it increased slowly to peak in 20-30 min in the CDDP-charcoal group. Moreover, the CDDP-charcoal group was found to have a much higher concentration of CDDP in the lymph nodes than the CDDP-saline group.