Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy in combination with angiotensin II for advanced bladder cancer

A combination of 50 to 80 mg. per m.2 cis-platinum and 30 to 50 mg. per m.2 doxorubicin or 30 to 50 mg. per m.2 tetrahydropyranyl-doxorubicin instead of doxorubicin was infused into the bilateral internal iliac artery for the treatment of 20 patients with T3 or T4 advanced bladder cancer. Angiotensin II was administered together with these chemotherapeutic agents by means of an infusion pump at a rate of 1.5 to 2.0 micrograms. per minute for 20 minutes for both sides. Among the 20 patients complete (9) and partial (8) responses were obtained after only 1 or 2 courses of this intra-arterial treatment. Histological examination showed severe tumor destruction with no viable cells in 6 and no tumor in 4 of the 15 evaluable cases. Selective enhancement of regional blood flow in the tumor region after intra-arterial infusion of angiotensin II was observed by continuous target arterial 81mkrypton infusion. Intra-arterial chemotherapy with combined angiotensin II may be clinically useful for treatment of primary or metastatic bladder carcinoma.