Regional vs systemic effect of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) on squamous cell carcinoma in rats

Utilizing a model that compares the effects of chemotherapeutic agents given regionally vs systemically in the same animal, the effects of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum (II) (cis-platinum) were evaluated. Squamous cell carcinoma was implanted at the bases of both ears of Fisher-344 rats. By retrograde cannulation of a branch of the external carotid artery, tumors on the right were treated by intra-arterial infusions of varying doses of cis-platinum while tumors on the left were treated only after systemic circulation of the same drug. The investigators found that cisplatinum is effective in decreasing the rate of tumor growth compared to control animals treated with saline; however, they found no difference in the rate of growth between tumors treated regionally vs systemically and therefore no advantage in the intra-arterial administration of the drug at the doses and rates of infusion tested.