[Lymphangial infusion of carboplatin and iodized-oil emulsion: phase I trial]

We examined lymphography as an interventional radiological technique for suppressing microscopic metastasis to the pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes. There were no reports on this method in our survey of the literature. We performed a dose-escalation study as a phase I trial to determine the maximum dose that could be given without intolerable complications. From September 1991 to April 1992, carboplatin and iodized-oil emulsion was injected into both feet of 10 patients by the Kinmonth method. In the first 5 patients 5 mg of carboplatin was injected into each foot, and 10 mg was injected in the next 5 patients. When the injection of 15 mg was attempted, the injection could not be completed because carboplatin powder was deposited in the syringe. The amount of carboplatin was limited by the instability of the carboplatin-lipiodol emulsion at 15 mg in the present study. There were not intolerable complications. In one case in which 10 mg was injected into each foot, the average platinum concentration in resected pelvic lymph nodes was 0.83 microgram/gWet (maximum: 3.51 micrograms/gWet) even a week after treatment. Serum platinum was undetectable (< 50 ng/ml). These results suggest that a high concentration of carboplatin can be preserved for a long time by this novel interventional technique.