[Cancer chemotherapy for lymph nodal metastases using activated carbon particles adsorbing methotrexate]

A new dosage format (MTX-CH) of methotrexate (MTX) comprises MTX adsorbed onto fine activated carbon particles which has strong affinity to lymphatics. MTX-CH was tested for its therapeutic effects on lymph node metastases in mice experimental model. It is known that metastases have been established in the regional lymph nodes of all mice 7 days after subcutaneous inoculation with P388 leukemia cells at 5 x 10(5) cells/mouse in left hind foot pad, and that assay mice survival time becomes short in proportion to log [P388 cell number inoculated intraperitoneally]. Therefore, drug treatment was carried out on day 7, and the regional nodes were extirpated and transferred intraperitoneally to assay mice on day 10. The survival time of mice to whom transferred were the nodes of mice treated with MTX-CH was significantly longer compared with those treated with MTX aqueous solution.