Bromodeoxyuridine uptake by early liver metastases in rats: a comparison of the hepatic artery and portal vein infusion routes.

Liver metastases generated by the intraportal inoculation of ascites hepatoma cells in Donryu rats were labeled with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) through the hepatic artery, or through the portal vein with or without ligation of the hepatic artery, 3, 6, or 9 days after tumor inoculation. The distribution of BrdU-labeled cells was evaluated in 174 metastases, 110-1640 microm in diameter, by immunohistochemical methods. When a dual blood supply from the portal vein and hepatic artery existed, the BrdU-labeled cells were diffusely found in the metastases regardless of their size and the route of BrdU infusion. When blood supply to metastases larger than 610 microm in diameter was from a single source, namely the portal vein, the BrdU-labeled cells were located within 90-290 microm from the margin of the metastases. These results indicate first, that drug uptake by the inner part of the early metastatic liver tumors is achieved through the hepatic artery, and second, that drug uptake by early liver metastases through the portal vein is limited to within the extent of portal diffusion regardless of the size of the metastases. Thus, we conclude that prophylactic treatment against liver metastases would be more effective when given via the hepatic artery route rather than via the portal vein route.