[Studies on the new long-acting anti-cancer preparation, 5-fluorouracil-polyglycolic acid composite]

Polymer polyglycolic acid is biocompatible in the body. A needle-shaped long-acting anti-cancer preparation (F-PGA needle) was prepared by compounding polyglycolic acid and the anti-cancer drug 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU). The release of 5-FU from the needle was maintained for about 10 days, and the needle disappeared after one year. A clinical study with the F-PGA needle was made on patients with terminal carcinomas. Shrinkage of tumors and tumor necrosis were observed in two patients with metastatic liver carcinomas. The F-PGA needle supplies high-dose 5-FU locally for a long time with fewer side effects by embedding it into the tumor tissue. Therefore the F-PGA needle can be said to be promising in the treatment of unresectable cancer as a topical application of chemotherapy.