[The movement of antineoplastic solutions in transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization]

Transcatheter hepatic arterial embolization (TAE) with gelatin sponge particles soaked in anticancer agents has been widely employed in the treatment of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The mechanism of TAE has been explained by blocking of blood flow to the tumor, however the role of anticancer agents used with embolic materials has remained unclear. The purpose of this study is to prove the role of anticancer agents used in TAE. 1) In eighteen cases of HCC and 4 cases of metastatic liver cancer, TAE was performed with gelatin sponge, anticancer agents and contrast media. The livers were examined by CT 4, 24 and 48 hours after TAE. A selective retention of contrast media containing anticancer agent in the tumor area was observed in 14 of 14 cases examined 4 hr. in 15 of 17 cases examined 24 hr and in 6 of 6 cases examined 48 hr after TAE. In the cases of metastatic liver cancer, retention of contrast media, was also observed in 4 of 4 cases examined at 24 hr and 3 of 3 cases examined 48 hr after TAE. 2) TAE was done in 12 cases of HCC by using gelatin sponge soaked in anticancer agent mixed with 99M-Tc-pertechnetate. Livers were observed by a scintillation camera 4 hr and 24 hr after TAE. A selective retention of 99M-Tc-pertechnetate in the tumor was observed in 12 of 12 cases examined 4 hr and in 3 of 3 cases examined 24 hr after TAE. 3) In one cases of HCC, hepatectomy was performed 2 days after TAE.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)