[Intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy with mitomycin C containing albumin microspheres]

Enhancement of anti-tumor effect by intraarterial embolization chemotherapy with albumin microspheres containing mitomycin C(MMC-ms) was studied. MMC-ms (1.2 mg/kg) was injected into the femoral artery of rabbits and the lower thigh muscle was extirpated to measure the MMC concentration within it. Although the concentration became rapidly decreased in the case of conventional MMC injection, a high MMC level was sustained by MMC-ms injection. In a further study, male Wistar rats weighing 300 to 350 g were injected with MMC-ms into the hepatic artery and then their livers were resected to investigate the process of degradation of MMC-ms. Microspheres were found to be retained in the hepatic arterioles for at least 2 weeks, but in thicker arterioles, fully-packed microspheres were not degraded even over 4 weeks. Clinically, in 22 patients with hepatic malignancies, consisting of 8 primary and 14 metastatic, MMC-ms was injected into the hepatic artery and its antitumor effect was evaluated by CT scan or sonography. Since effective tumor regression was observed in 14 patients (64%) and no serious side effect was seen, the clinical utility and efficacy of intraarterially administered MMC-ms were proved.