Effects of intraperitoneal administration of gemcitabine and paclitaxel on hepatic regeneration in rats

We aimed to test clinical implications of intra-peritoneally administered gemcitabine and paclitaxel on hepatic regeneration after hepatic resection in rats.

Fifty male, Swiss albino rats weighing between 200 and 240 g were used. After a 30% partial hepatectomy was performed (except Sham group), animals were divided into five groups as: high-dose gemcitabine, low-dose gemcitabine, paclitaxel, control, and Sham operation groups. In the high-dose and low-dose gemcitabine groups, animals received 200 and 12.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal gemcitabine for five days after partial hepatectomy respectively. In the paclitaxel group, animals were administered 6 mg/kg paclitaxel in the same fashion. Control and Sham groups received intraperitoneal 0.9% NaCl. On the sixth postoperative day, the animals were killed liver tissues were resected, proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunopositivity was determined and weight loss and diarrhea were assessed.

Gemcitabine and paclitaxel treated animals lost weight and had more severe diarrhea than control and Sham group animals. No significant difference was observed between treatment groups in terms of weight loss, diarrhea, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. When treatment groups were compared to the control group in terms of proliferating cell nuclear antigen immunopositivity, no significant differences were detected.

It can be concluded that adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and paclitaxel is a safe option in terms of liver regeneration and side effects such as diarrhea and weight loss.