[Basic study of anti-cancer agents suspended in lipiodol]

Anti-cancer agents suspended in Lipiodol have been proved to be effective in the targeting of chemotherapy for cancer of the digestive organs. 5-FU, ADM and MMC were suspended both separately and collectively in Lipiodol. These preparations were terned FULIP, ADRLIP, MMCLIP and FAMLIP, respectively. Forty percent 5-FU was released from FULIP within 24 hours. ADM and MMC were released more slowly from ADRLIP and MMCLIP when compared with FULIP. ADM W/O type emulsion (ADM was dissolved in 60% Urographin/Lipiodol) released ADM so rapidly that 37% of the drug was detected in the water phase within 10 hours. However, the ADM W/O emulsion with Arlacel-A was much slower. From these results, it was suggested that the release speed of anti-cancer agents can be controlled by modifying the drug dosage and form. FAMLIP released 5-FU, ADM and MMC independently and the release speeds were equal to FULIP, ADRLIP and MMCLIP. It was also suggested that the biological activities of 5-FU, ADM and MMC in FAMLIP were stable in FULIP, ADRLIP and MMCLIP. It should therefore be possible to use a large amount of anti-cancer agent suspended in Lipiodol, as a combined drug cancer therapy.