[Pre-operative transcatheter arterial embolization for the patients with locally advanced breast cancers--a newly...

Anticancer agents, Mitomycin C and Adriamycin, were immobilized on absorbable gelatin materials, respectively with a blood clotting factor, Factor XIII and thrombin with a special technique we have developed. The materials were clinically applied as thrombotic agent in pre-operative therapeutic transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) to 5 patients with locally advanced breast cancer. About 1 week after TAE, the regression of the primary tumor was found in 4 out of 5 patients; all patients received currative operation without any trouble. The histological examinations of the excised specimens showed remarkable degenerative changes (IIA and IIB: Shimosato's classification) of cancer cells not only in the primary tumor, but also in the metastatic regional lymph node. No complications due to the TAE were observed. These findings strongly suggest that this newly deviced materials are quite effective in pre-operative treatment for the locally advanced breast cancers.