Size of lipid microdroplets effects results of hepatic arterial chemotherapy with an anticancer agent in water-in-oil-in-water emulsion to hepatocellular carcinoma.
We have initially prepared a new drug delivery system for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using sonication and a detergent, iodinated poppy seed oil (IPSO) can be mixed with an aqueous solution of epirubicin to make a water-in-oil emulsion. The water-in-oil emulsion is further passed through a microporous glass membrane and split into saline to make a long-term inseparable water-in-oil-in-water emulsion (W/O/W) that consists of IPSO microdroplets. To investigate the effect of the size of IPSO microdroplets on the efficacy of injection chemotherapy with W/O/W in patients with HCC, 32 HCC patients were randomly assigned and treated with W/O/W of small IPSO microdroplets (30 micrometers in diameter) containing 60 mg of epirubicin (n = 16, group A) or W/O/W of large IPSO microdroplets (70 micrometers) containing the same amounts of epirubicin (n = 16, group B). Effects were assessed by measuring the percentage of decline of the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level in a week from the AFP level immediately before the treatment. The decline was significantly larger in group B (50.5 +/- 19.8, mean +/- S.D.) compared with group A (18.9 +/- 33.1; p <.005). The size of IPSO microdroplets injected into the hepatic artery determines the decrease of serum AFP levels of the patients with HCC.
Higashi
S
S
Department of Surgery I, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, Japan.
Tabata
N
N
Kondo
K H
KH
Maeda
Y
Y
Shimizu
M
M
Nakashima
T
T
Setoguchi
T
T
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004655:Emulsions; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012996:Solutions; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004655:Emulsions; D012996:Solutions; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D014867:Water; D015251:Epirubicin; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase